Cognitive Rehabilitation in Schizophrenia

Summary

The study will investigate the viability of two cognitive rehabilitation strategies to improve functional outcomes for people with schizophrenia. Many people with schizophrenia experience impairments in cognitive function which limit their abilities. These impairments have been shown to precede the onset of illness and represent a vulnerability factor which is exacerbated by emerging psychotic symptoms. These impairments affect a range of functional domains including symptom severity, work function, symptom management, treatment, and overall quality of life. Recognizing the link between cognitive impairment and function, a few clinicals and researchers have attempted to remediate cognitive impairments by providing cognitive retraining programs similar to those used in traumatic brain injured patients or adaptive skills training. Cognitive retraining involves repetitive exercises to increase elemental cognitive functions including memory, attention, psychomotor speed, planning, and cognitive flexibility. Adaptive skill training involves didactic group exercises in social skills, activities of daily living, and symptom management. Each approach has demonstrated some rehabilitation benefits. This study will investigate the effectiveness of a combination of these two approaches on outcomes in schizophrenia.

Conditions

• Cognitive Impairment
• Schizophrenia

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) + Skill Training (SDG)

CRT is a one on one cognitive skills training and Skill training is a group intervention to develop concrete skills of daily living.

BEHAVIORAL

Individual Computer Based Cognitive Rehabilitation (ICBCR) and Skills Training (SDG)

ICBCR is a computerized cognitive skills training program and Skill training is a group intervention to develop concrete skills of daily living.

BEHAVIORAL

Skills Group (SDG)

Skill training is a group intervention to develop concrete skills of daily living. This is augmented with the opportunity to receive up to 5 hours of individual staff contact.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Gary Bryson · VA Connecticut Health Care System (West Haven)

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2004-06-30

Primary Completion

2008-12-31

Completion

2009-10-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations