Arithmetic Training With the Kumon Method for Cognition in Schizophrenia

Arithmetic Calculation Training With the Kumon Errorless Learning Method for Cognitive Rehabilitation of Patients With Schizophrenia: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT03055520

Enrollment

Registered

2017-02-16

Start date

2009-06-30

Completion date

2011-06-30

Last updated

2017-02-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Keywords

schizophrenia, cognition, arithmetic training, Kumon method

Brief summary

A randomized placebo-controlled trial of arithmetic training (with the Kumon Method) as an errorless learning method for improvement of cognition in schizophrenia. Outpatients were included after signing an informed consent. The trial consisted of 48 sessions of arithmetic training (twice a week, for 6 months) or placebo (nonspecific recreation, 48 sessions). The patients were evaluated with a neuropsychological battery at baseline, after 6 months (end of intervention) and after 12 months after baseline. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP) were applied at baseline, after 6 months (end of intervention) and 12 months after baseline. Primary outcome was the performance on three cognitive domains (attention, executive functions and working memory).

Interventions

OTHERplacebo

nonspecific recreation including befriending and free simple activities.

OTHERcognitive training

The Kumon method (www.kumon.com) of arithmetic calculation employs the errorless-learning (EL) strategy and consists of a structured, hierarchical series of exercises, beginning with simple ones (e.g. addition and subtraction) and then proceeding to more complex exercises (e.g. advanced algebra, calculus).

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 55 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Literate (≥5 years of formal education). * Diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). * Clinically stable, with constant antipsychotic medication regimen for ≥8 weeks before screening * No hospitalizations in the last 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

* Other Axis I psychiatric disorders, substance abuse or dependence. * History of head trauma or other neurologic diseases. * Severe or uncontrolled medical diseases, history of mental retardation or attendance in special-education classes, * Suicide risk * Participation in any other kind of psychosocial intervention.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
improvement in attention	change from baseline to 6 months and to 12 months	neuropsychological battery
improvement in working memory	change from baseline to 6 months and to 12 months	neuropsychological battery
improvement in executive function	change from baseline to 6 months and to 12 months	neuropsychological battery

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
psychopathology	change from baseline to 6 months and to 12 months	Evaluation with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
functioning	change from baseline to 6 months and to 12 months	Evaluation with the Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026