Exploring language disorders in patients with psychosis

Study of Language Disorders and Interactions Between Mnesic Capabilities and Semantic Competencies in Patients With Psychosis

This study is trying to understand how language problems affect communication in people with psychosis, like schizophrenia, to see how these issues relate to their other symptoms.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Ages: 16 Years to 55 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Laxou, France)
• Trial ID: NCT06036316 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the language disorders present in patients with psychotic disorders, focusing on how these disorders affect communication across various linguistic domains such as phonology, lexicon, semantics, morphosyntax, and pragmatics. It aims to characterize these language difficulties and assess their interactions with other symptoms of psychosis, particularly thought disorders and neuropsychological symptoms. The study will involve language assessments and standardized interviews to gather comprehensive data on the participants' language capabilities and mental state. Participants will include individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and those at risk of developing psychosis, treated at the Psychotherapeutic Center of Nancy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are French-speaking individuals aged 16 to 55 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those aged 16 to 35 at risk of developing psychosis.

Not a fit: Patients outside the specified age range or those not fluent in French may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance understanding of language disorders in psychosis, leading to improved communication strategies and therapeutic approaches for affected patients.

How similar studies have performed: While studies have explored language disorders in psychosis, this specific focus on the interaction between language capabilities and psychotic symptoms is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* All Groups:

  * Patient affiliated or entitled to a social security scheme
  * Patient having received informed information on the study and having co-signed, with the investigator, a consent to participate in the study
  * For minor participants, at least one of the parents or holders of parental authority having been informed of the study, having received the information note relating to it and not having objected to the participation of his or her child
  * Native language: French
* ARMS and FEP Patient Group:

  * Age between 16 and 35 years old
  * Present the criteria for EMRP or FEP as defined by the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental State (CAARMS) or present the criteria for Disorders of the course of thought to the items of the Schizophrenia Proneness Instrument (SPI-A)
* Patients with schizophrenia group:

  * Age between 16 and 55 years old
  * Patient with diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, as defined by DSM V (American Psychiatric Association, 2015)
  * Present the criteria for Disorganization of Speech and Formal Thought Disorder as defined by the Thinking, Language and Communication (TLC) Rating Scale.
* Healthy Volunteers Group:

  * Age between 16 and 55 years old
  * Parental authorization (of both parents) to participate in the study for minor patients

Exclusion Criteria:

* All groups:

  * Pregnant, parturient or nursing mother
  * Person deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision
  * Person in a life-threatening emergency
  * Adult subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, curatorship, safeguard of justice)
  * Adult person unable to express their consent and who is not the subject of a legal protection measure
  * Impairment of the subject making it difficult, if not impossible, for them to participate in the trial or to understand the information given to them
  * Abuse or dependence of any substance according to DSM V criteria excluding cannabis
* Healthy Volunteers Group:

  * Evolving psychiatric pathology (axis I of the DSM IV, measured at the MINI) excluding anxiety disorder
  * Presence of developmental disorder of oral language or written language revealed on clinical examination.

Where this trial is running

Laxou, France

• Centre Psychothérapeutique de Nancy — Laxou, France, France (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Florent Bernardin, PhD — Centre psychothérapeutique de Nancy
• Study coordinator: Anaëlle PAJAUD

Conditions: Psychosis, Schizophrenia, At-risk Mental State, Language Disorders