Optimizing Cognitive Remediation Outcomes in Schizophrenia (CAST)

The purpose of this study is to drive an optimal response to neuroplasticity-based cognitive remediation in schizophrenia in order to maximize treatment response. The investigators will investigate factors that have generally been ignored in prior computer-based cognitive remediation programs-those related to social cognition-- and will delineate their relationship to motivation, functional outcome, and the neural substrates of reward anticipation and emotion processing. Current research indicates that, unless the investigators fully understand and harness these factors, the investigators will not achieve meaningful treatment gains for individuals with schizophrenia.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Schizophrenia; Psychosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Targeted Cognitive Training; Other: Social Cognitive Training

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to explicitly and aggressively drive an optimal response to neuroplasticity- based cognitive remediation in schizophrenia in order to maximize treatment response. We will investigate factors that have generally been ignored in computer-based cognitive remediation programs-those related to social cognition-- and will delineate their relationship to motivation, functional outcome, and the neural substrates of reward anticipation and emotion processing. Current research indicates that, unless we fully understand and harness these factors, we will not achieve meaningful treatment gains for individuals with schizophrenia.

Our specific aims are:

1. To perform an RCT in which 100 schizophrenia subjects are assigned to either 60 hours of neuroplasticity- based computerized targeted cognitive training (TCT) that focuses exclusively on "cold cognition" (a program which trains early sensory processing, attention, working memory and cognitive control in auditory and visual domains), or to 60 hours of training that combines the TCT program with 20 minutes per day of adaptive computerized social cognition training (SCT) exercises.
2. To compare the outcomes of these two groups of subjects on measures of neurocognition, social cognition, motivation, and functional outcome.
3. To assess subjects six months after the intervention to determine the durability of training effects.
4. To identify changes in brain activation patterns in key neural regions as a result of TCT alone vs. TCT+SCT: during reward anticipation, and during emotion recognition.

The timeliness of this approach is supported by recent evidence demonstrating only weak associations between traditional cognitive remediation approaches and functional outcome in schizophrenia, but a strong, direct relationship between social cognition and functional outcome. Thus we must now examine the clinical, functional, and neural effects of a well-designed state-of-the-art cognitive training program that combines neurocognition with social cognition training.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 172
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • San Francisco, California, United States, 94121
      • San Francisco Veterans Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Between 18-65 years of age
• Clinically stable
• Fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Recent hospitalization, in the past 3 months
• History of traumatic brain injury
• Neurological disorders
• Inability to participate in the study soberly

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Targeted Cognitive Training; 40 hours of BFP auditory training	Other: Targeted Cognitive Training; At present, the TCT exercises consist of three modules: an Auditory Processing Module (40-50 hours of training); a Visual Processing Module (30 hours); a Cognitive Control Module prototype (20 hours). [Based on the results of our current RCT, Posit Science has revised aspects of the training modules in order to further optimize its effectiveness for treatment of schizophrenia. In this study, we will use updated versions of the training software: an Auditory Module (30 hours), and a Visual Module (30 hours). Features from the Cognitive Control module prototype have been expanded and incorporated into these new modules.
Experimental: Social Cognitive Training; 40 hours of auditory training and 10 hours social exercises	Other: Social Cognitive Training; We developed a systematic approach to basic training in facial emotion identification and discrimination and simple social perception and theory of mind tasks using components drawn from three commercially available software packages: the MicroExpressions Training Tool and The Subtle Expressions Training Tool (METT and SETT), plus the MindReading program. Training begins with simple emotion identification tasks, and slowly progressed to more difficult tasks that required subjects to discriminate between two subtle emotion expressions, and to correctly interpret the emotional significance of brief social scenes. A total of 10 hours of training occurred over 8 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from Baseline Social Cognition at 6 months	Social functioning scale	Baseline (Intake)/6 months follow-up after trianing completion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fisher M, Nahum M, Howard E, Rowlands A, Brandrett B, Kermott A, Woolley J, Vinogradov S. Supplementing intensive targeted computerized cognitive training with social cognitive exercises for people with schizophrenia: An interim report. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2017 Mar;40(1):21-32. doi: 10.1037/prj0000244.
• Biagianti B, Fisher M, Neilands TB, Loewy R, Vinogradov S. Engagement with the auditory processing system during targeted auditory cognitive training mediates changes in cognitive outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia. Neuropsychology. 2016 Nov;30(8):998-1008. doi: 10.1037/neu0000311. Epub 2016 Sep 12.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: December 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): July 26, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 11, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 2, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): April 7, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 5, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 3, 2019
• Last Verified: April 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Schizophrenia
• Other Study ID Numbers: R01MH082818 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No