Exploring social disconnection and loneliness in veterans with schizophrenia using digital tools
Official title: A Multimethod Approach of Social Disconnection in Schizophrenia: Leveraging Digital Phenotyping, Social Network Analyses, and Neuroimaging
Funded at VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System · NIH-10921837 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how feeling lonely and disconnected affects veterans with schizophrenia, using smartphones to gather information about their daily social interactions and emotions, with the hope of finding better ways to help them connect with others.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 1IK2CX002729-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10921837 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience social disconnection and loneliness.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those who do not experience significant social disconnection or loneliness may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social disconnection and loneliness affect veterans with schizophrenia by utilizing digital tools like smartphones for real-time data collection. It aims to understand the complexities of social interactions and feelings of isolation in everyday life, moving beyond traditional clinical assessments. By analyzing social connections and emotional states through digital phenotyping and neuroimaging, the study seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms of social disability, which could lead to more effective treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions that enhance social functioning and reduce feelings of loneliness in veterans with schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using digital phenotyping to assess mental health conditions, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abplanalp, Samuel Joseph — VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Abplanalp, Samuel Joseph
Related research
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Understanding social disconnection in schizophrenia using digital signals and brain data
This grant explores how smartphones, social networks, and brain imaging can reveal why Veterans with schizophrenia have trouble forming and maintaining relationships, with the goal of guiding better treatments.
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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.