From Brain Currents to Interpersonal Flow: Investigating the Social Processing Stream of Schizophrenia

Study Overview
=================
Brief Summary
-----------------
The overall objective of this project is to identify the neural signature of the impaired ability to relate socially seen in individuals with schizophrenia. A hypothesized path from the neural processes of social cognition, to social cognition assessed behaviorally, to real-life social interactions is examined. Secondary aims are to compare electrophysiological measures of high vs low level social cognition; to develop assessment methods of real-life behavior; and to increase the ecological validity of schizophrenia research. Much research within the field is devoid of personal meaning and interpersonal context. This project's use of personalized assessment allows for an ecologically valid approach to the social deficits of schizophrenia.

Official Title
-----------------
From Brain Currents to Interpersonal Flow: Investigating the Social Processing Stream of Schizophrenia

Conditions
-----------------
Schizophrenia, Cognitive Impairment, Social Competence

Intervention / Treatment
-----------------
* Other: This is not an intervention study


Participation Criteria
=================
Eligibility Criteria
-----------------
Inclusion Criteria: schizophrenia schizoaffective disorder Exclusion Criteria diabetes Hyperthyroidism severe head trauma neurological disease

Ages Eligible for Study
-----------------
Minimum Age: 17 Years
Maximum Age: 55 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
-----------------
All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
-----------------
Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
=================
How is the study designed?
-----------------

Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| SZ<br>Individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia | Other: This is not an intervention study<br>* This is not an intervention study<br>|
| HC<br>Healthy control participants | Other: This is not an intervention study<br>* This is not an intervention study<br>|

What is the study measuring?
-----------------
Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neurophysiology: EEG | EEG mu suppression paradigm using point-light displays | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Neurophysiology: ERP | ERP mentalizing paradigm (perspective taking) | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Cognition | Matrics Consensus Cognitive Battery | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Negative symptoms: clinician-rated | Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) 2. Objectively assessed using computerized software (FaceReader, PRAAT) of video-taped personal narratives produced by the participants | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Negative symptoms: objective 1 | FaceReader | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Negative symptoms: objective 2 | PRAAT | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Social cognition: complex ToM | Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Social cognition: low level ToM | The Hinting Task | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Social cognition: facial emotion perception | Pictures of Facial Affect | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Social cognition: body language reading | Emotion in Biological Motion test | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Functioning | Social Functioning Scale (SFS). Seven scales that can be combined into a total score. Mean score in a schizophrenia population = 100, SD = 15. For both the seven scales and the total score. | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Real-world behaviour | Day Reconstruction Method | 1 day (when assessed) | 
| Real-world social interactions | Video-ethnography | 1 day (when assessed) |