Study of Intra- and Interpersonal Multimodal Synchronizations in a Social Interaction in Individuals with a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia. (ENHANCER1)

University Hospital Center (CHU)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Schizophrenia

Treatments: Behavioral: Social interaction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06484387

RECHMPL22_0408

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to precisely identify deficits in intra- and interpersonal multimodal synchronizations during social interaction in individuals with schizophrenia (ISZ). During a social interaction, individuals use both visual and auditory channels to construct their discourse. The auditory channel encompasses the semantics and prosody of the speech, while the visual channel describes the entirety of non-verbal gestures (e.g., facial expressions, body movements). Prosody and non-verbal gestures are essential elements for the speaker. By accompanying speech, they contribute to the planning and conceptualization of the utterance and enhance its communicative power. For the listener, prosody and non-verbal gestures are also used to provide sensory feedback to the speaker.

Several studies have shown the existence of intrapersonal and interpersonal synchronizations of prosody and non-verbal gestures during interaction. These synchronizations are associated with numerous social benefits (e.g., increased mutual appreciation and quality of interaction). However, certain mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, exhibit deficits in non-verbal behaviors that can impair these synchronizations and the associated social benefits. We hypothetized that interaction with individuals with a daignosis of schizophrenia will be associated with deficits in intra and interpersonal synchronization.

Full description

This study includes a pre-inclusion interview followed by a visit to the university hospital (CHU) lasting about 2 hours (including a break). During the visit, the patient participates in an experimental protocol consisting of two parts. In the first part, the patient will be paired with an interaction partner, and the two participants will engage in four distinct conversational tasks, including getting to know each other, free discussions, structured dialogues, and emotional interactions. In the second part, the participants will answer several questionnaires and perform neuropsychological tests in collaboration with an experimenter

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia :

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the DSM-V
• being able to read, speak and understand french
• giving eclaired consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of head trauma
• history of neurological conditions (epilespsy, multiple sclerosis, parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, huntington's disease, stroke)
• substance use
• pregnant women

Healthy controls :

Inclusion Criteria:

• being able to read, speak and understand french
• giving eclaired consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of psychosis
• history of head trauma
• history of neurological conditions (epilespsy, multiple sclerosis, parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, huntington's disease, stroke)
• substance use
• pregnant women

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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120 participants in 2 patient groups

dyad schizophrenia and interacting partner

Experimental group

Description:

social interaction between an individual with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and his interacting partner

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social interaction

dyad healthy subject and interacting partner

Experimental group

Description:

social interaction between a healthy subject and his interacting partner

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social interaction