White Matter Plasticity in Schizophrenia

University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Schizophrenia Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Music video game

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06641297

HP-00081020

Details and patient eligibility

About

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with impairment in the microstructure of white matter, the key brain tissue responsible for fast communication between different brain regions necessary for any complex task. This white matter impairment is linked to problems with cognition in schizophrenia, especially slower processing speed. This project aims to study the potential for correcting white matter deficits in schizophrenia by examining mechanisms underlying white matter structure changes in response to training on playing a mock musical instrument.

Enrollment: 36 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 15 to 45 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, or psychosis NOS
• age 15-45
• able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• contraindications to MRI (metal implants, claustrophobia)
• medical condition that limits use of hands (ie, arthritis)
• Active or recent (within 6 months) substance use disorder other than nicotine

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Active training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Training sessions involving playing the video game 'Guitar Hero'

Treatment:

Behavioral: Music video game

Observation training

Placebo Comparator group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Music video game