NCT02267070

Enhancing Cognitive Training Through Exercise After a First Schizophrenia Episode

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 48 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of California, Los Angeles · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This is a randomized controlled 6-month trial of the efficacy of a novel intervention combining neuroplasticity-based cognitive training with aerobic exercise, compared to the same systematic cognitive training alone. The primary treatment targets are overall cognitive deficit level and independent living skills. The investigators hypothesize that combining neuroplasticity-based computerized cognitive training and neurotrophin-enhancing physical exercise will produce large cognitive and functional improvements, even relative to cognitive training alone. Adding aerobic exercise to a cognitive training program will have the additional benefit of helping to ameliorate medication side effects, reduce the risk for developing metabolic syndrome, and help to prevent the deterioration in physical health that usually follows the onset of schizophrenia and its pharmacologic treatment. The investigators target the period shortly after a first episode of schizophrenia to maximize the generalization of cognitive improvement to functional outcome, before chronic disability is established.

Detailed description

The Cognitive Training and Exercise intervention involves 24 weeks of systematic computerized cognitive training, 4 hours per week, plus aerobic exercise, four 30 minute sessions per week. The first 12 weeks involves neurocognitive training, using auditory training exercises from Posit Science Brain HQ. The second 12 weeks involves social cognitive training, using the Posit Science SocialVille modules. Aerobic exercise occurs as two 30-minute sessions at the clinic and two at home weekly. Intensity of aerobic exercise is tailored to maintain an individualized target heart rate zone and is monitored by a heart rate recorder. A weekly one-hour Bridging Skills Group with other members of the treatment condition is designed to aid generalization of training to everyday life situations.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia
• Schizophreniform Disorder
• Schizoaffective Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Case management and supportive psychotherapy	An individual therapist will provide weekly case management and therapy targeting the individual psychological problems and everyday functioning needs of the patient
BEHAVIORAL	Family psychoeducation	All immediate family members will be invited to family psychoeducation sessions.
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive training	The Cognitive Training and Exercise intervention involves 24 weeks of systematic computerized cognitive training, 4 hours per week, plus aerobic exercise, four 30 minute sessions per week. The first 12 weeks involves neurocognitive training, using auditory training exercises from Posit Science Brain HQ. The second 12 weeks involves social cognitive training, using the Posit Science SocialVille modules. A weekly one-hour Bridging Skills Group with other members of the treatment condition is designed to aid generalization of training to everyday life situations.
BEHAVIORAL	Aerobic exercise	Aerobic exercise occurs as two 30-minute sessions at the clinic and two at home weekly. Intensity of aerobic exercise is tailored to maintain an individualized target heart rate zone and is monitored by a heart rate recorder.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-11-01
• Primary completion: 2016-11-01
• Completion: 2017-07-01
• First posted: 2014-10-17
• Last updated: 2017-12-07

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States