Visual perception in schizophrenia and related disorders

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This single-site project records EEG while participants complete computer-based visual tasks to look for neural signatures linked to psychosis. Eligible adults (18–65) must have a DSM-5 diagnosis confirmed with the SCID-5 and adequate vision and English fluency to complete the tests. The team uses standard EEG recording and in-house optical correction when needed to measure brain responses to visual stimuli. Collected EEG markers will be compared across diagnostic groups to identify potential objective indicators of psychosis.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* All Subjects
* Aged 18-65
* 20/32 visual acuity or better (using in-house optical correction, if necessary)
* An ability to speak English well enough to complete study assessments and to consent to the study
* Subjects with Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorder
* Meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder as confirmed by the Structured Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5).
* Subjects with Bipolar Disorder
* Meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder (type I, II, or unspecified) as confirmed by the Structured Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5).

Exclusion Criteria:

* All subjects
* Presence of characteristics that could impair one's ability to comprehend the nature of the study, provide informed consent, or understand the assessment questions, including the following:

  * Subject cannot read and understand the instructions well enough to complete the tasks or cannot provide informed consent.
  * Intellectual impairment (WRAT-5 score \< 70) (at the discretion of experimenter);
  * Actively intoxicated, as shown via patient self-report or staff report;
  * Substance use disorder in the past 3 months;
  * Subject considered high risk for suicidal acts (i.e., active suicidal ideation as determined by clinical interview OR any suicide attempt in 30 days prior to screening);
  * Subject violence (involving severe/lethal means or violence occurring in prior 6 months) or extreme agitation.
  * Being in a current manic state
  * Head injury with loss of consciousness greater than 10 minutes (at the discretion of the experimenter).
  * Subject has had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the past 8 weeks;
  * Diagnosed with a neurological condition (tumor, stroke, brain injury) or neurological disorder, including seizure disorders. Diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder (phone screen or medical records)
  * Lazy eye or squint or other known ocular pathology
* Healthy Control Subjects
* Any lifetime psychotic disorder or history of psychiatric hospitalization (self disclosure);
* Daily antidepressant, mood stabilizer or antipsychotic medication use in the last 6 months, or benzodiazepine use during the prior 2 days (self-disclosure); iii. First-degree relative(s) with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (based on subject self-report) or bipolar disorder.
* Case-match Control Non-ill Subjects
* Any lifetime psychotic disorder (as assessed by SCID/or SSD);
* Recurrent depressive episodes or being in a current depressive episode (as assessed by SCID/or SSD)
* Persistent threshold psychotic symptoms
* History of psychiatric hospitalization;
* Daily antidepressant, mood stabilizer or antipsychotic medication use in the last 6 months, or benzodiazepine use during the prior 2 days
* First-degree relative(s) with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (based on subject self-report) or bipolar disorder.
* Bipolar Subjects
* Persistent threshold psychotic symptoms

Where it's running

• University of Rochester
  Rochester, New York, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Edmund Lalor, PhD
• Email: Edmund_Lalor@URMC.Rochester.edu
• Phone: 585-275-3077

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.