Telemedicine therapy for improving language skills in stroke patients with aphasia
PICTURE IT: Producing Increasingly Complex Themes Using Right-hemisphere Engagement (PICTURE) Implemented With Telemedicine
This study is testing two different online language therapies for stroke patients with aphasia to see which one helps improve their speaking and naming skills better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 70 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 99 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Johns Hopkins University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Trial ID | NCT05845047 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot crossover trial compares two behavioral language treatments for patients with aphasia following a stroke. One treatment focuses on stimulating right hemisphere functions through telemedicine, while the other is a computer-delivered lexical treatment. Participants will undergo both treatments in a randomized order, with blinded assessors evaluating changes in discourse and naming abilities. The study also includes assessments of brain connectivity and optional saliva samples to analyze neurotrophic factor status.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 or older who have experienced a stroke within the last 1 to 4 months or more than 6 months prior and have naming deficits.
Not a fit: Patients who do not speak English or have a history of other neurological diseases or severe psychiatric conditions may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this therapy could significantly enhance language recovery in stroke patients with aphasia.
How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in enhancing language recovery through targeted therapies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18 or older 2. Premorbid proficiency in English 3. Left hemisphere ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke confirmed by imaging, which occurred either 1-4 months or ≥ 6 months ago 4. Diagnosis of aphasia secondary to stroke as defined using the Western Aphasia Battery-Revised Aphasia Quotient \< 93.8. 5. Capable of giving informed consent or indicating another to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior history of neurologic disease affecting the brain (e.g., brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury) other than stroke 2. Prior history of severe psychiatric illness, developmental disorders or intellectual disability (e.g., PTSD, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders) 3. Inability to follow the treatment procedure as indicated by appropriate (not necessarily accurate) engagement during 5 probes of each. 4. Uncorrected severe visual loss or hearing loss by self-report and medical records
Where this trial is running
Baltimore, Maryland
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Argye E Hillis, MD — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Argye E Hillis, MD
- Email: argye@jhmi.edu
- Phone: 410-614-2381
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.