Using language analysis to understand disorganized speech in psychosis
Official title: Advancing Computational Linguistic Biomarkers of Disorganized Speech in Psychosis
Funded at Feinstein Institute for Medical Research · NIH-10911859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to better understand and measure disorganized speech in people with psychosis, like schizophrenia and mood disorders, by using advanced computer techniques to analyze their speech, which could help doctors predict how well treatments are working and the risk of relapse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Feinstein Institute for Medical Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhasset, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $195,480 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH130750-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10911859 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders or mood disorders with psychotic features.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any psychotic features or those not diagnosed with schizophrenia or mood disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how disorganized speech in individuals with psychosis can be measured using advanced computational linguistics techniques. By analyzing speech samples from 270 participants with schizophrenia and mood disorders, the study aims to identify patterns of disorganization that may indicate treatment response and relapse risk. The researchers will develop deep-learning methods to classify speech disorganization and predict participant characteristics based on linguistic features. This approach seeks to provide a more objective and reproducible way to assess cognitive disturbances in psychosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for individuals experiencing disorganized speech in psychosis.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using computational linguistics for analyzing speech patterns, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Manhasset, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Sunny Xiaojing — Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
- Study coordinator: Tang, Sunny Xiaojing
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Vital signs for psychosis: personalized, always-on markers from speech and language
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-
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-
Overlap between how we speak and how we hold words in memory
A Duke-led project studies how the brain that talks relates to keeping verbal information in working memory, using advanced brain recordings from patients already undergoing medical care.
-
Psychosis in diverse settings across the world
This project studies how psychotic disorders show up and respond to treatment in adults with diverse backgrounds, including populations in Africa, the Caribbean, and other Global South settings.
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Psychosis in Diverse Settings: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Across Global South
A human-facing study will look at how psychotic disorders present and respond to treatment in adults from Africa, the Caribbean, and other Global South settings, using genetic and clinical data.
-
A new online brain-scan-style tool to spot early psychosis risk
A new online-based set of tasks and a computer model aims to identify people at high risk for developing psychosis earlier and more accurately.
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.