Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Schizophrenia: Effects on EEG and Emotional Regulation

Summary

This study aims to determine whether Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) can improve attention, memory, and emotional regulation in people with schizophrenia. CRT is a structured program that includes exercises to strengthen cognitive skills such as problem-solving, working memory, and emotion regulation.

The study will recruit 60 participants: 30 individuals with schizophrenia and 30 healthy individuals of similar age and gender. Those with schizophrenia will be randomly assigned to either receive CRT or be placed on a waitlist without therapy. All participants will undergo non-invasive brain activity (EEG) and emotional response (GSR) recordings before and after the therapy.

The study's main question is: Does participating in a 12-week CRT program improve brain-based markers of attention and emotional regulation in people with schizophrenia?

Additional tests, such as memory and emotion recognition tasks and self-report questionnaires, will help assess changes in thinking skills and emotional well-being. The study may help better understand how CRT affects both brain function and quality of life in schizophrenia.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia Disorders
• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Emotion Regulation Disorders

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Remediation Therapy

CRT is a structured behavioral intervention consisting of weekly 60-minute sessions for 12 weeks. The therapy includes tasks to enhance cognitive skills such as attention, memory, executive function, and emotional regulation using computer-based training and therapist-guided exercises.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uskudar University

  collaborator OTHER

• Istanbul Nisantasi University

  collaborator OTHER

• Beykoz University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Professor · Üsküdar University

• Selami Varol Ülker, Phd · Üsküdar University

• Metin Çınaroğlu, Phd · İstanbul Nişantaşı University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-03-15

Primary Completion

2025-08-15

Completion

2025-10-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations