Evaluating social understanding in young people at risk for psychosis
Official title: Social Cognition Battery for Psychosis-Risk (SCB-PR): A Psychometric and Validation Study
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11062196 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how young people who might be at risk for psychosis understand social situations, so we can create better tools to help track their social skills over time and improve their care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | December 5, 2024 |
| Project end | October 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $802,423 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH136185-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062196 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents and young adults who are identified as being at clinical high risk for psychosis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at risk for psychosis or who are older adults may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing and validating effective measures of social cognition for individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis, particularly adolescents and young adults. By assessing how these individuals understand and respond to social information, the study aims to identify reliable tools that can track changes in social cognitive abilities over time. The methodology involves a thorough psychometric evaluation to ensure that the measures are sensitive to individual differences and applicable to younger populations. This work is crucial for informing personalized interventions that can improve clinical outcomes for those at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better assessment tools that enhance treatment strategies for young individuals at risk for psychosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in validating social cognitive measures in older populations, but this approach is novel for younger individuals at risk for psychosis.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pinkham, Amy — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Pinkham, Amy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social Cognition Measures for People at Risk of Psychosis
A study to find and test the best mental tasks that measure social thinking for people who might develop psychosis.
-
Using cerebellum-targeted brain stimulation to improve thinking in psychosis
Testing whether noninvasive brain stimulation of the cerebellum can help thinking and memory in people with psychotic illnesses like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
-
Social thinking tests for teens and young adults at risk for psychosis
This project is creating and checking social thinking tests for teens and young adults who show early signs of psychosis.
-
How the cerebellum affects thinking in people with psychosis
This study is looking at how a part of the brain called the cerebellum affects thinking problems in people with conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and it hopes to find ways to improve these thinking skills using safe brain stimulation techniques.
-
Improving cognition and motivation in early psychosis treatment
This study is looking to improve support for people dealing with early psychosis by using special care teams in Minnesota, focusing on personalized feedback and a mobile program to help with thinking and motivation over 12 weeks.
-
Understanding how brain function affects social thinking in early psychosis
This study is looking at how the brain works when it comes to understanding other people's thoughts and feelings in people who are having their first episode of psychosis, and it hopes to find ways to help improve social skills and quality of life for them.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.