Schizophrenia clinical trials at UCSF
5 in progress, 4 open to new patients
"Cognitive Training Delivered Remotely to Individuals With Psychosis
open to eligible people ages 18-60
The purpose of this study is to use remote methods and scalable interactive neurotechnology to generate important data on the potential for remote targeted cognitive treatment in people with schizophrenia. The investigators will perform a double-blind randomized control trial in 120 participants with schizophrenia, comparing: 1) An evidence-based structured program of 40 hours of on-line auditory and social cognitive training (exercises over 12 weeks (-3.5 hours per week), delivered with an innovative digital application which provides users with a motivation coach to set personalized goals and with secure social networking for peer support, Personalized Real-time Intervention for Motivational Enhancement (PRIME) ; vs.2) A control condition of free-choice on-line cognitive exercises, encouraged at 3.5 hours per week over 12 weeks, delivered with a standard commercial goal-setting app, "Daily Goals".
San Francisco, California and other locations
Adult Study Oxytocin - Behavioral
open to eligible males ages 18-45
In this study, investigators will examine the behavioral effects and neurophysiological mechanisms of the pro-social neuropeptide oxytocin in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Such research is a necessary first step towards identifying whether intranasal oxytocin administration can serve as an adjunct treatment for social impairments in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Aim 1: To quantify the effects of exogenous oxytocin on social cognition and behavior in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia. Hypothesis A: Patients and healthy comparison subjects will show enhanced social cognition (e.g., improved interpretation of paralinguistic and emotional cues, such as those involved in emotional or sarcastic communication) after administration of oxytocin versus placebo. Hypothesis B: Patients and healthy comparison subjects will show increased attention to others' eyes and patients will exhibit increased facial affect expressivity after administration of oxytocin versus placebo.
San Francisco, California and other locations
Community-Based Cognitive Training in Early Schizophrenia
open to eligible people ages 18-35
The purpose of this study is to determine whether cognitive training exercises can improve cognitive functioning in young patients with recent-onset schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform, and psychosis NOS who are being treated in community mental health settings. We will investigate the effects of web-based cognitive training exercises delivered on a portable laptop computer. The findings will provide us with valuable information on whether cognitive training can improve the cognition and functioning of young individuals early in the course of schizophrenia.
San Francisco, California
Reward Processing in Mental Illness
open to eligible people ages 18-30
The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of reward processing dysfunctions in schizophrenia using neuroimaging techniques that capture in vivo brain functioning, such as EEG and fMRI.
San Francisco, California
A Pharmaco-imaging Approach to Predicting Social Functioning and Clinical Responses to Oxytocin Administration in Schizophrenia
Sorry, not yet accepting patients
Schizophrenia has a devastating and disproportionate effect on veterans compared to the general US population. Some of the most disabling symptoms, such as low motivation, difficulty expressing emotions, and decreased ability to infer the mental states of others, cause poor social functioning. This means that veterans with schizophrenia have trouble navigating interpersonal interactions and building meaningful relationships in the community. Unfortunately, current antipsychotic medications typically only improve positive symptoms but fail to improve social functioning deficits, which are strong predictors of poor quality of life and functional outcomes. Oxytocin, a peptide found in the brain, plays an important role in social behavior and is known to moderate affiliation, stress, and learning across taxa. In this study, the investigators will test whether oxytocin could be an effective treatment for social functioning deficits in schizophrenia. The investigators will examine changes in brain activation to understand how oxytocin affects behavior and to predict which individuals may benefit from oxytocin treatment.
San Francisco, California
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