Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia
Conditions
Keywords
Cognitive Training, Complex Problem Solving, Goal Management, Planning
Brief summary
The primary purpose of the study is to assess whether a planning and problem-solving training is more effective in improving work therapy performance in patients with schizophrenia than traditional training programs addressing basic cognitive functions.
Detailed description
In patients with schizophrenia, cognitive deficits often lead to an impairment in daily life. This observation has led to the development of cognitive training packages aiming a improving these deficits. However, it is far from clear which level of cognitive functioning provides the best target for cognitive interventions. Traditionally, training has aimed a basic cognitive functions like attention and memory. In the present study we aim at a higher-level of function, namely planning and problem-solving skills, which are trained using the software package Plan-A-Day. The primary hypothesis is that complex problem solving training improved functional capacity more than traditional training programs addressing basic cognitive function.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALComplex Problem Solving Training
10 sessions of 45 minutes complex problem solving training over 3 weeks (including 30 minutes of computerized planning and problem-solving training with Plan-A-Day and 15 minutes group session for transfer to everyday situations)
BEHAVIORALBasic Cognitive Training
10 sessions over 3 weeks of 45 min basic cognitive training (including 45 min computerized training of attention, processing speed, memory)
Sponsors
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Heidelberg University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients with schizophrenic or schizoaffective Disorder (DSM IV) * Remitted positive symptoms (PANSS positive all ≤ 4), clinical stability * Native German speaker * Verbal IQ \> 80 * Visual acuity normal or corrected to normal
Exclusion criteria
* Concurrent Axis-I disorder * Drug abuse during last 2 months * Neurological or medical conditions potentially affecting cognition
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Functional Capacity as assessed by Osnabrücker Arbeitsfähigkeitsprofil learning ability subscale | 3 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Functional Capacity as assessed by the Osnabrücker-Arbeitsfähigkeitsprofil summary score | 3 weeks |
| BADS Zoo Map Score (Neuropsychological Test) | 3 weeks |
| Planungstest (Tower of London) Summary Score (Neuropsychological Test) | 3 weeks |
| Plan-A-Day S Solution Time (Neuropsychological Test) | 3 weeks |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed