View clinical trials related to Schizophrenia.
Filter by:This study will examine changes in synaptic density with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. Synaptic density levels will be measured using a novel positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer [18F]SDM-8, which is currently the best-in-class method to quantify synaptic density in humans. This will be a companion study to a parent study by our group examining the effects of tDCS on treatment adherence in schizophrenia (REB #103-2018).
Two of the major features of schizophrenia spectrum illness, negative and cognitive symptoms, have been associated with poor functional outcome and burden of illness. Given the proposed role of dopaminergic hypoactivity, augmentation with psychostimulants has been postulated as one of the potential treatment options for negative and/or cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. The major drawback for use of these agents is a potential risk of relapse or worsening of psychosis through direct or indirect dopamine agonism activity and a great deal of caution has been called for use of stimulants in individuals with psychosis. However, preliminary results of earlier studies indicated improvement of negative and cognitive symptoms with off-label use of adjunctive psychostimulants. The present study aims to assess off-label use of adjunct psychostimulants in patients with schizophrenia in a tertiary mental health centre, focusing on efficacy and safety.
Introduction 16.8% of the Danish adult population are obese (Body Mass Index> 30 kg / m2). Obesity increases the risk of lifestyle diseases such as type-2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver. People with mental illness have an increased risk of developing obesity. Both obesity and certain mental disorders (bipolar disorder and schizophrenia) are associated with circadian rhythm disorders. Clinically, this may manifest as reduced sleep quality, depressive symptoms and increased fatigue, but also deregulation of a wide range of bodily processes subject to the circadian rhythm. In circadian rhythm disorders, the pattern of how mRNA of specific 'clock genes' is expressed in the cell may be affected. These clock genes are associated with obesity, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Despite the clear indications of an interplay between mental illness, obesity and circadian rhythm disorders, the relationship between these illnesses are largely unexplored. Aim The aim of this study is to investigate circadian disturbances in people with and without obesity, as well as people with obesity and a comorbid diagnosis of either schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Methods The study population will consist of: 1. People with obesity and schizophrenia (N=22) 2. People with obesity and bipolar disorder (N=22) 3. People with obesity without psychiatric disease (N=22) 4. People with BMI 18.5 - 25kg/m2 and no psychiatric disease (N=20) Study Procedure Participants will visit the clinic 2 times. At each visit participants fill in questionnaires and perform physical tests. Between visit 1 and 2, participants will over a 2-day period (at-home), collect biological samples (Four hair- and six saliva samples per day). In addition, participants will wear accelerometers and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for a total of 8 days, including the 2-day sampling period. Sampled hair follicles are analyzed for relative expression of clock gene mRNA. Saliva is analyzed for cortisol- and melatonin content. The four participants groups are analyzed and compared on daytime variation in mRNA expression, cortisol- and melatonin concentration, and body temperature. Perspectives A comparison of patient groups presenting with mental disease, obesity and circadian disturbances may provide new insight into the association between these diseases.
Cognitive deficits (CD) are considered one of the essential characteristics in psychotic disorders and occur throughout the course of the disease, being a key characteristic in the evolution of the disease and in the functionality and prognosis of patients. Intervening in the early stages of the disease and specifically in adolescence, a period of high brain plasticity can reduce disabilities in adulthood associated with early-onset psychosis. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation therapy in adolescents with a first psychotic episode, comparing two groups of these patients: a first group (CCRT) will carry out 40 sessions of a computerized cognitive remediation therapy with the usual treatment too, and a second group will perform only the usual treatment (TAU). The main hypothesis is that the CCRT group will present a significant improvement in verbal memory, visual attention, executive function, and social cognition and will present better global functioning compared to the TAU group.
This is a single-site, sham-controlled, randomized trial in a total of 60 subjects between ages 18 and 40 years with schizophrenia. This study will investigate the effects of 4-week rTMS treatment on brain and cognitive functions in patients. Subjects will be randomized to one of the following arms: Arm 1: Standard of Care (SOC) and active rTMS Arm 2: Standard of Care (SOC) and sham rTMS Each participant will receive rTMS five days per week, for four consecutive weeks. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans, clinical assessments, and cognitive tests will be performed at baseline, end of the 2nd week, and end of the 4th week.
Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders are the most persistent, debilitating, and economically burdensome mental illnesses worldwide. Cognitive remediation (CR) is a psychological intervention based on principles of learning and neuroplasticity to improve cognitive abilities. The investigators previously developed a novel CR intervention specifically targeting executive functions and aimed here to enhance its effect on functioning by combining it with Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCs). The primary goal is to determine whether receiving tDCS prior to CR improves one's ability to engage in cognitive activities and enhance cognitive abilities. To do so, 40 participants will be recruited with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders from Ontario Shores inpatient units, half of whom will receive real tDCS and half will receive sham tDCS, whereas all will receive CR. This study will provide important information on whether the outcome of training executive function can be further enhanced with non-invasive brain stimulation.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate Community Reinforcement and Family Training for Early Psychosis (CRAFT-EP) for families experiencing early psychosis and substance use delivered exclusively or primarily via telehealth (video conferencing).
cTBS is a promising novel intervention, which has strong potential on moderating disease syndrome. However, the most effective pattern of the cTBS is still under debate. Therefore, the investigators designed this randomized controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of accelerated cTBS, with 1800 stimulation per session, on intervention to metabolic side effects in individuals with schizophrenia.
The present longitudinal study aims to investigate the impact of lurasidone treatment in recent-onset psychosis patients. The effects of lurasidone will be studied primarily in terms of structural and myelin modifications, in relation to clinical outcomes, before and after treatment and in healthy controls. Furthermore, neuropsychological tests will be used to evaluate changes in cognitive performance.
The study use a new ecological questionnaire called ESSME developed by a care team in order to evaluate ecological environment of patients with schizophrenia-like disorders. Indeed, evaluation in an ecological environment would make it possible to be as close as possible to the concerns of theses patients, which could improve the care of this population, by making it possible to set with the patient objectives anchored in their daily life.