Augmentation of Neuronal Network Plasticity in Schizophrenia (SCZ)

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Healthy; Schizophrenia

Treatments: Behavioral: 3D navigation video game intervention; Behavioral: No 3D navigation; Behavioral: video game intervention without 3D navigation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03522220

SFB936 C7

Details and patient eligibility

About

Current pathophysiological models of schizophrenia focus on disconnectivity of distributed neuronal systems to explain the multitude of psychic symptoms. However, therapeutic strategies targeting this specific pathobiology are lacking. Our recent work provides strong evidence that complex video-game training interventions facilitate fronto-hippocampal structural and functional connectivity within 2 months in healthy subjects. The planned project transfers this knowledge into a training study in schizophrenic patients to counteract disease-related disconnectivity. Underlying mechanisms and behavioral effects are extensively parametrized by resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), spectroscopy and clinical short- and long-term outcome.

Enrollment: 150 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• clinically stabilized
• at least one schizophrenic episode in their lives
• International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) F20.x (and F25)

Exclusion criteria

• clinically relevant anemia
• MRI contraindication
• earlier electroconvulsive shock treatment
• significant somatic or neurological disease
• significant alcohol or substance abuse in the year before
• more than 1h video games per day more than 6 months before study start
• simultaneous major psychiatric disease (if symptomatic in the foreground)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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150 participants in 3 patient groups

3D Super Mario Game Condition

Experimental group

Description:

3D navigation video game intervention

Treatment:

Behavioral: 3D navigation video game intervention

2D Super Mario Game Condition

Active Comparator group

Description:

Video game intervention without 3D navigation

Treatment:

Behavioral: video game intervention without 3D navigation

Kindle Device

Active Comparator group

Description:

No 3D navigation

Treatment:

Behavioral: No 3D navigation