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SchizophreniaMPP-SNCT02576613

Modified Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Patients With Schizophrenia

A study testing MPP-S and TAU in people with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 1 site in Germany.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

A randomized controlled, prospective, two-armed, mono-centric, assessor-blinded clinical trial will serve to generate preliminary data on the efficacy and safety of modified psychodynamic therapy (MPP-S) in stabilized patients after the first or subsequent episodes of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 65 years
Conditions the study is for
Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
What is being tested?
MPP-S and TAU
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
130 participants
Where
1 siteGermany
Study dates
Oct 2015to Dec 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 65 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder according to DSM-IV-TR
  • Age 18-64 years
  • Sufficient German language competence
  • Written informed consent
  • Consent to audio recording of psychotherapy sessions and video-taping of assessment interviews at study visits

Who cannot join

  • Organic brain disorder
  • Relevant somatic disorder impairing cerebral function
  • Relevant abuse alcohol and illegal drugs as assessed by a current or previous indication for treatment for addiction
  • Inability to understand and comply with the requirements of the study and to give written informed consent
  • CDSS-item for suicidal ideation is marked >/= 2
  • Massive agitation or current endangerment of others

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Germany1 site
  • Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik der Charité im St. Hedwig Krankenhaus

    Berlin, 10115

Other trials in Germany

About this study

Official title: Modified Psychodynamic Psychotherapy for Patients With Schizophrenia - a Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized controlled, prospective, two-armed, mono-centric, assessor-blinded clinical trial will serve to generate preliminary data on the efficacy and safety of modified psychodynamic therapy (MPP-S) in stabilized patients after the first or subsequent episodes of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Read the detailed description

Rationale: Compared to the existing evidence for other psychotherapy methods like cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy or family interventions, the scientific basis of psychodynamic psychotherapy for psychoses is weak with respect to randomized-controlled research. Its encouragement by expert opinion and the broad application of this method stands in sharp contrast to the apparent lack of research interest regarding its efficacy and safety and the fact that more people suffering from schizophrenic spectrum disorders will hopefully embark on psychotherapy in the coming years.

The aim of the presented study is therefore on the one hand to explore the efficacy and safety of modified psychodynamic psychotherapy (MPP-S) in a randomized controlled study design. On the other hand, psychodynamic assumptions regarding the treatment of psychotic persons shall be elucidated in an explorative part of the study. For this purpose, a newly developed manual of modified psychodynamic psychotherapy for psychoses will be inaugurated.

Primary objective of the study is to determine whether the administration of MPP-S in addition to standard treatment (=treatment as usual: TAU) will lead to an improvement of psychosocial functioning in outpatients with schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder compared to standard treatment.

Secondary objectives refer to the question, whether symptom domains and necessity of hospital treatment, as well as interpersonal functioning and subjective recovery might be impacted by MPP-S compared to TAU alone. Moreover, theoretical assumptions about possible psychodynamic mechanisms of action of MPP-S led to exploratory hypotheses, which are to be tested.

Safety and tolerability of the psychodynamic intervention will be evaluated by acquisition of safety data during study visits, but also by continuous monitoring of participants' condition after every treatment session and clinical contact.

Additional exploratory objectives of this study deal with the question, whether cerebral functional activity and connectivity within the so-called "Default-Mode-Network" (DMN) measured with fMRI are influenced by psychodynamic psychotherapy in the intervention group compared to the control condition. Moreover, changes of functional correlates of social cognition before and after psychotherapy or TAU will be compared between groups using a video-based social-cognitive task during fMRI.

Being tested
MPP-S, TAU
Medical subject headings
Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • MPP-SOther

    Also called Modified psychodynamic psychotherapy

    > 30 weekly sessions of modified psychodynamic psychotherapy in addition to standard treatment

  • TAUOther

    Also called treatment as usual

    standard medical treatment without structured psychotherapeutic intervention

Study groups in NCT02576613
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
MPP-SExperimentalat least 30 weekly sessions of modified psychodynamic psychotherapy
Receives: Other: MPP-S
standard therapy (TAU)Experimentalclinical standard treatment, including supportive therapeutic contacts, pharmacotherapy, creative and occupational therapies, psychoeducation, group therapies, excluding structured individual or group psychotherapy
Receives: Other: TAU

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. psychosocial functioning

    Primary endpoint is the Mini-ICF-APP (=Mini-International Classification of Functioning for limitations of Activities and Participation in Psychological disorders) as a measure of disorders of capacity as defined by the International Classification of Functioning

    Measured: 6 months

  2. psychosocial functioning

    Primary endpoint is the Mini-ICF-APP (=Mini-International Classification of Functioning for limitations of Activities and Participation in Psychological disorders) as a measure of disorders of capacity as defined by the International Classification of Functioning

    Measured: 12 months

  3. psychosocial functioning

    Primary endpoint is the Mini-ICF-APP (=Mini-International Classification of Functioning for limitations of Activities and Participation in Psychological disorders) as a measure of disorders of capacity as defined by the International Classification of Functioning

    Measured: 24 months

  4. psychosocial functioning

    Primary endpoint is the Mini-ICF-APP (=Mini-International Classification of Functioning for limitations of Activities and Participation in Psychological disorders)

    Measured: 36 months

Secondary outcomes (39)
  1. psychotic symptom severity

    psychotic symptoms measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)

    Measured: 6 months

  2. psychotic symptom severity

    psychotic symptoms measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)

    Measured: 12 months

  3. psychotic symptom severity

    psychotic symptoms measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)

    Measured: 24 months

  4. psychotic symptom severity

    psychotic symptoms measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)

    Measured: 36 months

  5. depressive symptom severity

    depressive symptoms measured by Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia

    Measured: 6 months

  6. depressive symptom severity

    depressive symptoms measured by Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia

    Measured: 12 months

  7. depressive symptom severity

    depressive symptoms measured by Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia

    Measured: 24 months

  8. depressive symptom severity

    depressive symptoms measured by Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia

    Measured: 36 months

  9. necessity of hospital treatment

    necessity of hospital (inpatient) treatment, measured cumulative days in hospital per year

    Measured: 6 months

  10. necessity of hospital treatment

    necessity of hospital (inpatient) treatment, measured cumulative days in hospital per year

    Measured: 12 months

  11. necessity of hospital treatment

    necessity of hospital (inpatient) treatment, measured cumulative days in hospital per year

    Measured: 24 months

  12. necessity of hospital treatment

    necessity of hospital (inpatient) treatment, measured cumulative days in hospital per year

    Measured: 36 months

  13. general symptom severity

    Clinical Global Impression (CGI Severity und Improvement)

    Measured: 6 months

  14. general symptom severity

    Clinical Global Impression (CGI Severity und Improvement)

    Measured: 12 months

  15. general symptom severity

    Clinical Global Impression (CGI Severity und Improvement)

    Measured: 24 months

  16. general symptom severity

    Clinical Global Impression (CGI Severity und Improvement)

    Measured: 36 months

  17. psychic "structure"

    Axes II-VI (relationships, conflicts, structure) of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD)

    Measured: 6 months

  18. psychic "structure"

    Axes II-VI (relationships, conflicts, structure) of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD)

    Measured: 12 months

  19. psychic "structure"

    Axes II-VI (relationships, conflicts, structure) of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD)

    Measured: 24 months

  20. psychic "structure"

    Axes II-VI (relationships, conflicts, structure) of the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics (OPD)

    Measured: 36 months

  21. metacognitive function

    Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A)

    Measured: 6 months

  22. metacognitive function

    Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A)

    Measured: 12 months

  23. metacognitive function

    Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A)

    Measured: 24 months

  24. metacognitive function

    Metacognition Assessment Scale-Abbreviated (MAS-A)

    Measured: 36 months

  25. cognitive and emotional mentalization

    Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC)

    Measured: baseline

  26. cognitive and emotional mentalization

    Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC)

    Measured: 12 months

  27. "mentalized affectivity" and emotional awareness

    Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS)

    Measured: 6 months

  28. "mentalized affectivity" and emotional awareness

    Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS)

    Measured: 12 months

  29. "mentalized affectivity" and emotional awareness

    Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS)

    Measured: 24 months

  30. self-rated ability to solve interpersonal problems

    Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D)

    Measured: 6 months

  31. self-rated ability to solve interpersonal problems

    Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D)

    Measured: 12 months

  32. self-rated ability to solve interpersonal problems

    Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D)

    Measured: 24 months

  33. self-rated ability to solve interpersonal problems

    Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D)

    Measured: 36 months

  34. ability to make subjective sense of psychotic experiences

    Questionnaire to assess subjective meaning in psychosis (SuSi)

    Measured: 6 months

  35. ability to make subjective sense of psychotic experiences

    Questionnaire to assess subjective meaning in psychosis (SuSi)

    Measured: 12 months

  36. ability to make subjective sense of psychotic experiences

    Questionnaire to assess subjective meaning in psychosis (SuSi)

    Measured: 24 months

  37. ability to make subjective sense of psychotic experiences

    Questionnaire to assess subjective meaning in psychosis (SuSi)

    Measured: 36 months

  38. Changes in cerebral functional activity, connectivity, structure of social cognitive and default-mode networks from Baseline

    BOLD-contrast, structure

    Measured: baseline

  39. Changes in cerebral functional activity, connectivity, structure of social cognitive and default-mode networks from Baseline

    BOLD-contrast, structure

    Measured: 24 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted15 Oct 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study startOct 2015
  3. Primary completionDec 2021
  4. Study completionDec 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
130 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02576613
Sponsor's protocol ID
EA1/200/15
Acronym
MPP-S
Status last verified
Feb 2024
First submitted
8 Oct 2015
Last updated
6 Feb 2024
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Montag C, Brocker AL, Bayer S, Becker K, Bertram G, Buttner M, Funcke J, Grimm I, Just SA, Hadzibegovic J, Maassen E, Nenchev I, Stuke F, Bermpohl F, Heinz A, Lempa G, von Haebler D. The efficacy of modified psychodynamic psychotherapy for patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in Germany: a prospective, single-centre, assessor-blinded, parallel-group, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry. 2026 Oct;13(10):870-883. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(26)00240-3.

    PubMed 42716057

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing MPP-S and TAU in people with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder, run by Charite University, Berlin, Germany at 1 site in Germany.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Feb 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

psychosocial functioning (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02576613, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Feb 2024.

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