Huntington's Disease (HD)NCT06828471
Social Cognition Training in Individuals With Huntington's Disease
A study testing Social Cognition Training in people with Huntington's Disease (HD), run by Rush University Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Individuals with Huntington's Disease have impaired social cognition, which is the domain of cognition that allows individuals to understand others' perspectives so that they can navigate interpersonal actions successfully (e.g., understanding someone may be sad based of their facial emotion or tone of voice and then… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Huntington's Disease (HD)
- What is being tested?
- Social Cognition Training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Nov 2025to 15 Jul 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
- Diagnosed with Huntington's Disease based on genetic testing
- Must be between 18 and 65 years of age
- Native English speaker who is literate in English
- Stable psychotropic medication regimen for 4 weeks
- Must have a score of "somewhat easily" on all items in the CPQ-12
- MOCA >18
Show all 15Show fewer
- Completed 12 years of schooling
- Access to laptop or mobile device
- Willingness to come in person 6-12 weeks after first visit
- Inclusion Criteria for Caregiver of Individual with Huntington's Disease
- Lives with patient
- Must be between 18 and 65 years of age
- Native English speaker who is literate in English
- MOCA >26
- Willingness to come in person within 6-12 weeks after first visit
Who cannot join
- Any known neurological condition (other than Huntington's Disease).
- History of learning and/or intellectual disabilities
- Currently actively involved in any other interventional trial (i.e. have begun the intervention) or within 4 weeks of completing the final assessments of an interventional trial.
- Currently regularly completing a computerized cognitive training intervention.
- Active suicidal ideation with some intent
- Exclusion Criteria for Caregiver of Individual with Huntington's Disease
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Active suicidal ideation with some intent
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612
Tyler Svymbersky, 312-563-0676, Tyler_Svymbersky@rush.edu
Samantha Patel, MD
About this study
Official title: Social Cognition Training in Individuals With Huntington's Disease: A Feasibility Study
Individuals with Huntington's Disease have impaired social cognition, which is the domain of cognition that allows individuals to understand others' perspectives so that they can navigate interpersonal actions successfully (e.g., understanding someone may be sad based of their facial emotion or tone of voice and then responding in a sympathetic manner). Impaired social cognition is associated with impaired social functioning, poor psychological wellbeing and increased caregiver burden, which is known to be significant among those who care for individuals with Huntington's Disease. Computerized social cognition training has been shown to improve social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia, who, like individuals with Huntington's disease, have cognitive impairments. The investigators propose a pilot study of computerized social cognition training in individuals with Huntington's disease. This will be a feasibility study that aims to show that social cognition training in HD can be studied in preparation for a larger randomized controlled trial. The investigators hypothesize that social cognition training can improve social cognition, social functioning, and quality of life in individuals with Huntington's Disease and decrease caregiver burden among those who care for individuals with Huntington's Disease.
- Conditions
- Huntington's Disease (HD)
- Being tested
- Social Cognition Training
- Keywords
- Huntington's Disease, Social Cognition, Caregiver Burden
- Medical subject headings
- Caregiver Burden
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Social Cognition TrainingBehavioural
Neuroplasticity-based social cognition training that targets a range of social cognition skills, including visual and vocal affect perception, social cue perception, theory of mind, self-referential style, and empathy
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Social Cognition Training Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Behavioral: Social Cognition Training |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Proportion of participants willing to consider study out of those who have been approached
Measured: 32 months
Number of participants who adhered and completed the study
Measured: 32 months
Ease of program on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being "very easy."
Measured: 32 months
Participant satisfaction with the program
This will be a qualitative measure. The study staff will elicit from the participants what they liked about the program, what they did not like about the program, and what they would change about the program if they could.
Measured: 32 months
Secondary outcomes (6)
Change in accuracy on a facial emotion recognition task
Measured: 6-12 weeks
Change in accuracy on an empathic accuracy task
Participants view videos of individuals describing significant life events. Throughout the videos the participant are asked questions about the thoughts and feelings of the individual in the video.
Measured: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (scores range from 45 to 225; higher score indicates better outcome)
Measured: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities Questionnaire (scores range from 45 to 225; higher score indicates better outcome)
Measured: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Positive Affect and Wellbeing Questionnaire (scores range from 23 to 115; higher score indicates better outcome)
Measured: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Caregiver Burden Inventory (scores range from 0-96; lower score indicates better outcome)
Measured: 6-12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Feb 2025
- Study start15 Nov 2025
- Primary completion15 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Jul 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Huntington's Disease (HD)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Rush University Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Rush University Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Samantha Patel, Rush University Medical Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06828471
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 24112605
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 11 Feb 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Dec 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Social Cognition Training in Individuals With Huntington's Disease: A Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06828471
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 24112605
- Conditions
- Huntington's Disease (HD)
- Keywords
- Huntington's Disease, Social Cognition, Caregiver Burden
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Rush University Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 15 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 14 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Individuals with Huntington's Disease have impaired social cognition, which is the domain of cognition that allows individuals to understand others' perspectives so that they can navigate interpersonal actions successfully (e.g., understanding someone may be sad based of their facial emotion or tone of voice and then responding in a sympathetic manner). Impaired social cognition is associated with impaired social functioning, poor psychological wellbeing and increased caregiver burden, which is known to be significant among those who care for individuals with Huntington's Disease. Computerized social cognition training has been shown to improve social cognition in individuals with schizophrenia, who, like individuals with Huntington's disease, have cognitive impairments. The investigators propose a pilot study of computerized social cognition training in individuals with Huntington's disease. This will be a feasibility study that aims to show that social cognition training in HD can be studied in preparation for a larger randomized controlled trial. The investigators hypothesize that social cognition training can improve social cognition, social functioning, and quality of life in individuals with Huntington's Disease and decrease caregiver burden among those who care for individuals with Huntington's Disease.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Social Cognition Training Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Social Cognition Training |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (15 listed)
- Diagnosed with Huntington's Disease based on genetic testing
- Must be between 18 and 65 years of age
- Native English speaker who is literate in English
- Stable psychotropic medication regimen for 4 weeks
- Must have a score of "somewhat easily" on all items in the CPQ-12
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Any known neurological condition (other than Huntington's Disease).
- History of learning and/or intellectual disabilities
- Currently actively involved in any other interventional trial (i.e. have begun the intervention) or within 4 weeks of completing the final assessments of an interventional trial.
- Currently regularly completing a computerized cognitive training intervention.
- Active suicidal ideation with some intent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Social Cognition TrainingNeuroplasticity-based social cognition training that targets a range of social cognition skills, including visual and vocal affect perception, social cue perception, theory of mind, self-referential style, and empathy | Behavioural | Social Cognition Training Group |
Primary outcome
Proportion of participants willing to consider study out of those who have been approached
Time frame: 32 months
Number of participants who adhered and completed the study
Time frame: 32 months
Ease of program on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being "very easy."
Time frame: 32 months
Participant satisfaction with the program
Time frame: 32 months
This will be a qualitative measure. The study staff will elicit from the participants what they liked about the program, what they did not like about the program, and what they would change about the program if they could.
6 secondary outcomes
Change in accuracy on a facial emotion recognition task
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Change in accuracy on an empathic accuracy task
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (scores range from 45 to 225; higher score indicates better outcome)
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities Questionnaire (scores range from 45 to 225; higher score indicates better outcome)
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders Positive Affect and Wellbeing Questionnaire (scores range from 23 to 115; higher score indicates better outcome)
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Change in score on the Caregiver Burden Inventory (scores range from 0-96; lower score indicates better outcome)
Time frame: 6-12 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Dec 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Social Cognition Training in people with Huntington's Disease (HD), run by Rush University Medical Center 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 15 inclusion and 8 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Dec 2025. 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. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Tyler Svymbersky (312-563-0676, Tyler_Svymbersky@rush.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Proportion of participants willing to consider study out of those who have been approached (time frame: 32 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?
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 10 Dec 2025.