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SchizophreniaNCT02869334

Remediation of Auditory Recognition in Schizophrenia With tDCS

A study testing Active Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and Auditory Remediation in people with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder, run by New York State Psychiatric Institute at 1 site in United States.

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

The purpose of this study is to determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), when combined with different forms of computer based training, improves the ability to discriminate small differences between sounds in people diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 55 years
Conditions the study is for
Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
What is being tested?
Active Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and Auditory Remediation
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
20 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2016to 31 Jan 2020
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 55 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18-55
  • Primary diagnosis of Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
  • English fluency
  • Willing/capable to provide informed consent
  • Auditory tone matching deficits
  • Receiving stable doses of antipsychotic medication(s) for at least 2 weeks
  • IQ>75

Who cannot join

  • Serious neurological disorder or medical condition/ treatment known to affect the brain. Neurological Disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS), such as epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, movement disorders and sensory disorders.
  • Current or past history (within the last 6 months) of substance abuse or dependence (excluding nicotine)
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Taking anticholinergic medication (e.g. Cogentin, Thorazine, Clozaril, thioridazine)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • New York State Psychiatric Institute

    New York, New York, 10032

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Remediation of Auditory Recognition in Schizophrenia With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), when combined with different forms of computer based training, improves the ability to discriminate small differences between sounds in people diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Read the detailed description

This study uses an experimental procedure called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Little is known about how tDCS affects the brain or why some people diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder have trouble with certain kinds of hearing. This study is being done to see if an experimental computer training program, when combined with tDCS, can help people to hear better. In tDCS, a small amount of electricity is passed through electrodes placed on the head that is able to stimulate the brain. By stimulating the brain, the investigators believe that the functioning of the brain can be altered. This study will test whether such stimulation of the brain, when done with computer training, can improve hearing ability and if this improvement helps in other ways, like detecting changes in someone's tone of voice or understanding other people's emotions better. The data being collected aims to better understand how the brain processes sounds and how tDCS affects the brain.

Being tested
Active Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), Auditory Remediation, Control computer activities
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.

  • Active Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)Device

    Active tDCS, where an extremely weak electric current passes through the brain

  • Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)Device

    Sham (inactive or placebo) tDCS

  • Auditory RemediationBehavioural

    Computer program designed to improve discrimination between sounds

  • Control computer activitiesBehavioural

    Computer program (e.g. games), which are not designed to improve discrimination between sounds

Study groups in NCT02869334
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Auditory remediation with active tDCSExperimentalAuditory remediation program paired with active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for 30 minutes, 2-3 sessions per week
Receives: Device: Active Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); Behavioral: Auditory Remediation
Auditory remediation with sham tDCSExperimentalAuditory remediation program paired with sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for 30 minutes, 2-3 sessions per week
Receives: Device: Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); Behavioral: Auditory Remediation
Control (computer games with sham tDCS)Sham comparatorNon-remediation, control computer activities (e.g. games) with sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for 30 minutes, 2-3 sessions per week
Receives: Device: Sham Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS); Behavioral: Control computer activities

What is being measured

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

  1. Auditory Tone Matching Task

    Ability to match tones following brief delay

    Measured: Change in performance from Baseline at completion of training (week 16)

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Auditory Emotion Recognition (AER) Task

    Ability to detect emotion based on tone of voice

    Measured: Change in performance from Baseline at completion of training (week 16)

  2. ER-40

    Penn Emotion Recognition Test-40 Faces Version

    Measured: Change in performance from Baseline at completion of training (week 16)

  3. The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT)

    The TASIT is a measure of social cognition, theory of mind as reflected in the ability to detect lies/sarcasm while viewing social vignettes. Total scores range from 0-100% correct. Higher numbers (positive change) are considered better.

    Measured: Change in performance from Baseline at completion of training (week 16)

  4. Auditory Mismatch Negativity (MMN)

    Change in event related potentials (ERP) acquired during a task of auditory mismatch negativity (MMN), assessed with electroencephalography (EEG)

    Measured: Change in performance from Baseline at completion of training (week 16)

Timeline

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

  1. First posted16 Aug 2016 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2016
  3. Primary completion31 Jan 2020
  4. Study completion31 Jan 2020

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
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
20 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02869334
Sponsor's protocol ID
7266
Status last verified
Jun 2021
First submitted
19 Jul 2016
Last updated
8 Jul 2021
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Roberts MT, Lloyd J, Valimaki M, Ho GW, Freemantle M, Bekefi AZ. Video games for people with schizophrenia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Feb 4;2(2):CD012844. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012844.pub2.

    PubMed 33539561

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Active Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and Auditory Remediation in people with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder, run by New York State Psychiatric Institute at 1 site in United States.

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 7 inclusion and 4 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 8 Jul 2021. 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 United States. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 8 Jul 2021). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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?

Auditory Tone Matching Task (time frame: Change in performance from Baseline at completion of training (week 16)). 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 NCT02869334, 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 8 Jul 2021.

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