Cognitive training to improve emotion regulation in psychotic disorders
Cognitive Training for Emotion Regulation in Psychotic Disorders
This study is testing a smartphone app that provides cognitive training to see if it can help people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder better manage their emotions.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 70 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Georgia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Athens, Georgia) |
| Trial ID | NCT04414215 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effectiveness of a cognitive training program aimed at enhancing emotion regulation in individuals with psychotic disorders, specifically schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an emotional working memory training group or a placebo group, with the intervention delivered via a smartphone app over 30 days. The study aims to assess whether this cognitive training can improve prefrontal activation and, consequently, emotion regulation abilities. The research addresses a significant gap in current therapeutic options for managing emotion regulation deficits in psychotic disorders.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18-60 diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who are clinically stable and speak English.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of intellectual disability, neurological disorders, or substance use disorders within the last six months may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could provide a novel therapeutic approach to improve emotion regulation and overall functioning in patients with psychotic disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While cognitive training interventions have shown promise in other areas, this specific approach targeting emotion regulation in psychotic disorders is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * diagnostic and statistical manual fifth edition diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * 18-60 years old * speaks English * premorbid intelligence quotient \> 70 * clinically stable as indicated by no antipsychotic medication changes in the last month or if on depot, no change in the past 2 months. Exclusion Criteria: * history of intellectual disability or neurological disorder * history of traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness \> 10 minutes or behavioral sequelae * substance use disorder within the last 6 months (other than nicotine) * 4\) endorsement of MRI exclusion factors
Where this trial is running
Athens, Georgia
- University of Georgia — Athens, Georgia, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Gregory P Strauss, PhD
- Email: gstrauss@uga.edu
- Phone: 706-542-0307
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.