Complex Problem Solving Training in Schizophrenic Patients

Condition(s) targeted: Schizophrenia; Schizoaffective Disorder

Intervention: Complex Problem Solving Training (Behavioral); Basic Cognitive Training (Behavioral)

Phase: N/A

Status: Recruiting

Sponsored by: University of Heidelberg

Official(s) and/or principal investigator(s):
Matthias Weisbrod, MD, Principal Investigator, Affiliation: SRH Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Department of Psychiatry

Overall contact:
Matthias Weisbrod, MD, Phone: +49-7202-613342, Email: matthias.weisbrod@kkl.srh.de

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.

Official title: Complex Problem Solving Training in Schizophrenic Patients

Study design: Treatment, Randomized, Single Blind (Outcomes Assessor), Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study

Primary outcome: Functional Capacity as assessed by Osnabrücker Arbeitsfähigkeitsprofil "learning ability" subscale

Secondary outcome:

Functional Capacity as assessed by the Osnabrücker-Arbeitsfähigkeitsprofil summary score

BADS Zoo Map Score (Neuropsychological Test)

Planungstest (Tower of London) Summary Score (Neuropsychological Test)

Plan-A-Day S Solution Time (Neuropsychological Test)

Detailed 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.

Minimum age: 18 Years. Maximum age: 45 Years. Gender(s): Both.

Criteria:

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

Matthias Weisbrod, MD, Phone: +49-7202-613342, Email: matthias.weisbrod@kkl.srh.de

SRH Klinikum Karlsbad-Langensteinbach, Karlsbad 76307, Germany; Recruiting

Starting date: August 2007
Last updated: April 9, 2008