Complex Problem Solving Training in Schizophrenic Patients

Heidelberg University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Complex Problem Solving Training; Behavioral: Basic Cognitive Training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00507988

01GW0630

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 91 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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91 participants in 2 patient groups

A

Experimental group

Description:

Complex Problem Solving Training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Complex Problem Solving Training

B

Active Comparator group

Description:

Basic Cognitive Training

Treatment:

Behavioral: Basic Cognitive Training