View clinical trials related to Schizoaffective Disorder.
Filter by:Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the oldest neuromodulation treatments still used in psychiatry. Only case reports and open label non-randomized studies have been published of ECT in clozapine-resistant schizophrenia patients. The purpose of this trial is to study the efficacy and cognitive effects of add-on ECT treatment (10-course) in schizophrenia patients taking clozapine.
The study examine the effectiveness of an integrated care program including therapeutic assertive community treatment (ACT) for people with psychotic disorders fulfilling severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI, ACCESS-II study).
Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating mental disorder, characterised by a relapsing remitting course. Although anti-psychotics can prevent relapse, its effect on schizophrenia outcome remains very limited, mainly due to very poor adherence to medications by the patients. This study aims to find, whether the add-on of remote monitoring of medication compliance via tele-medicine, to routine out-patient clinic care, can improve patients adherence and reduce the risk of relapse.
The purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of a 30 hour cognitive remediation program for young patients with early phase schizophrenia spectrum disorders on cognitive, clinical and functional outcome measures. The remediation program is integrated with whatever active rehabilitation the participant is currently attending (school, work, day program etc).
To examine the feasibility of molecular imaging markers in clinical psychopharmacology
To determine the effects of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volumes and severity of psychotic symptoms in a population of psychosis patients compared to healthy age/gender matched volunteers. Psychosis patients often suffer from a number of cognitive difficulties, including poor memory function, poor problem-solving capacity and difficulties with attention and concentration. Poor fitness and associated neurovascular deficits may arise from various sources, including poor mental health, adverse side effects of antipsychotic medications and independent cardiovascular deficits that may be due to neurodevelopmental abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. These factors are likely contributing to markedly increased stroke risk and early mortality. These problems are not well addressed by current clinical treatments, nor is neurovascular stroke risk readily or accurately detected in clinic.In contrast, evidence from aging research strongly suggests that increased cardiovascular fitness may provide numerous cognitive benefits by promoting brain growth, particularly in the frontal lobes and the hippocampi, while reducing the risk of stroke. The current study will measure the effects of aerobic exercise on brain volumes in a population of chronic psychosis patients to determine if 1) hippocampal volumes increase in response to exercise and 2) if parallel improvements in cognitive functioning occur. Additionally, baseline and follow-up stroke risk will be assessed using a novel non-invasive approach of retinal imaging to determine the presence of underlying neurovascular pathology.
The investigators would like to know the association of gene polymorphisms and metabolic adversities in clozapine-treated patients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.
Background: Among individuals with schizophrenia, there is an increased prevalence of obesity, dyslipidemia ,diabetes mellitus and related conditions such as cardiovascular disease. People with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder, have worse physical health and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. Number of epidemiological studies of patients with schizophrenia have documented a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than in the general population, and patients with schizophrenia may be at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease even in the absence of antipsychotic treatment. Affinity for the H1 receptor is most closely linked to increased weight gain, although affinity for D2, 5-HT1A, 5-HT2C and a2-receptors may also be involved. Drug affinity for the H1, M3 and 5-HT2C receptors is correlated with an increased risk of diabetes. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration in the blood is independently and inversely associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease(CVD). However many patients with 'normal' or even 'elevated' plasma HDL experience clinical events. HDL may not always be atheroprotective and in some conditions, it paradoxically enhances the process of atherosclerosis. In addition to its role in reverse cholesterol transport, HDL shows many other protective properties towards atherosclerosis. HDL inhibits the chemotaxis of monocytes , prevents endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis, prohibit slow-density lipoprotein (LDL ) oxidation, and stimulates the proliferation of endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. These anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiaggregatory, anti-coagulant, and pro-fibrinolytic activities are exerted by different components of HDL Aim of the study: To investigate the functional properties of HDL in psychiatric patients before and during antipsychotic therapy. Patients and methods: The blood will be drawn at baseline before the initiation of antipsychotic drugs and 2 months under the antipsychotic treatment. Study procedures: Full lipid profile including triglycerides, LDL-C, Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, apo AI, apoAII and apoB100. Serum Paraoxanase Activity LDL oxidation and resistance to oxidation (measured by conjugated diens formation during incubation in the presence of copper). HDL composition: total and unesterified cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids, TBARS content before and after exposure to AAPH as a major indicator of oxidative stress, PON activity using phenylacetate as a substrate, apoA1and PAF. Serum parameters e.g. Diacyl glycerol acyltransferase activity, free ApoA1 and LCAT activity. 3 [H]-Cholesterol efflux will be measured by incubating J744 macrophages with serum. Radioactivity will measured by β counter in the cell lysate and the medium. Statistical methods: One-way AVOVA and Student's t-test for paired samples will be used for comparison of multiple groups and paired samples, respectively. p<0.05 will be considered significant.
Background: Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) than the general population and a control of these risk factors poorer. Serious mental illness often causes health teams to focus interventions in mental illness and put aside the CVRF. Objectives: This project aims to assess the CVRF, stratify the cardiovascular risk, adequate drug treatment to reduce this risk and evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention by professional community nurses in patients with SMI. Materials and Methods: Prospective study of a cohort of patients over 18 years with a diagnosis of SMI with two cross sections to evaluate the cardiovascular risk and adequacy of drug treatment. The investigators calculate the risk to the cardiovascular risk tables with the SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) for countries of low cardiovascular risk and the of Framingham REGICOR (Heart registry of Girona, Spain). The adequacy of pharmacotherapy will be assessed contrasting it with the recommendations of the Program of Preventive Activities and Health Promotion of Family medical association. The intervention will be conducted by professional nurses and consist of an initial psycho-educational intervention, and two more reinforcement throughout twelve months, of duration less than 30 minutes that will be addressed in an integrated manner the clinical situation with regard to cardiovascular risk. If necessary, pharmacological treatment will be prescribed. Twelve months after the first intervention, a second evaluation on cardiovascular risk and the effectiveness of the intervention will be performed.
Background: - Some illnesses, such as schizophrenia, have effects on brain cells called dopamine receptors, which are required for normal brain function. People with schizophrenia have difficulty thinking and experience hallucinations and delusions. Medications that change brain dopamine receptors can decrease these hallucinations and delusions. - The cause of schizophrenia and its association with brain dopamine receptors is not known but may be clarified by studying dopamine receptors in people who have dopamine disorders (such as schizophrenia) and those who do not. Researchers are interested in studying the dopamine system to gain a better idea of how dopamine disorders develop, which may lead to better medical care for people with schizophrenia. Objectives: - To study the amount and distribution of two types of dopamine receptors. Eligibility: - Individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 who have schizophrenia. - Healthy volunteers between the ages of 18 and 90. Design: - Participants will undergo a full screening, with physical and psychological history, a neurological examination, and blood and urine samples. - Participants will have a blood flow map of the brain recorded with a positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan will also be performed to determine brain anatomy. - To study the amount and distribution of dopamine receptors in the brain, participants will receive a small amount of a radioactive chemical in the vein, followed by a PET scan. - The procedure will be performed twice in two separate sessions, once for [18F]fallypride and once for [11C]NNC-112.