Predictors of Response to Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine which variables predict improvement on a cognitive training task battery, used for patients with schizophrenia, and to determine the proportion of patients whose performance returns to normal following cognitive training

Detailed Description
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It has been suggested that level of cognitive function is a rate-limiter for the efficacy of other psychosocial treatments in schizophrenia. Cognitive remediation, which entails training and practice of successively more difficult cognitive exercises, has shown efficacy in improving cognitive function. However, the rate of improvement has not been uniform among patients receiving this intervention. Given the time- and cost-intensiveness of cognitive remediation, it is important to examine variables that will predict response to this treatment, as well as to examine the clinical significance of any improvement. The current proposal has two aims: 1) to determine which neuropsychological, demographic, and illness variables predict response to cognitive remediation training; and 2) to determine the proportion of patients whose performance returns to normal following cognitive remediation training. For the first part of the proposed study, 50 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders will be invited to participate in an 8-week trial of cognitive remediation training. Detailed neuropsychological, demographic, symptom and illness course variables will be collected prior to training, at the conclusion of training, and 4 months from study intake. In order to answer the second question, additional data on the computerized task performance for healthy controls will be collected, and compared to patient data, in order to determine what constitutes normal-range performance

Official Title
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Predictors of Response to Cognitive Remediation in Schizophrenia

Conditions
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Schizophrenia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: cognitive remediation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder English speakers Clinically stable No substance abuse in past 30 days Exclusion Criteria: Traumatic brain injury Neurological disease Diagnosis of mental retardation

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: cognitive remediation<br>cognitive remediation | Behavioral: cognitive remediation<br>* individual cognitive training<br>|
| No Intervention: treatment as usual<br>treatment as usual | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cognitive Performance | Change in verbal memory scores from baseline to end of active phase (2 months), measured as trials 1-5 total score on the California Verbal Learning Test -II (range 0-80, higher scores represent better performance). | baseline and 2 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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cognition, neuropsychology, Rehabilitation, treatment efficacy, cognitive remediation