White Matter Plasticity in Schizophrenia

ConditionSchizophrenia Disorders

Trial statusRecruiting

Trial phaseNot applicable

Trial typeInterventional

Biological sexAll

Age15-45

SponsorUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore

About this trial

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are associated with impairment in the microstructure of white matter, the key brain tissue responsible for fast communication between different brain regions necessary for any complex task. This white matter impairment is linked to problems with cognition in schizophrenia, especially slower processing speed. This project aims to study the potential for correcting white matter deficits in schizophrenia by examining mechanisms underlying white matter structure changes in response to training on playing a mock musical instrument.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, or psychosis NOS

age 15-45

able to provide informed consent

Disqualifiers

contraindications to MRI (metal implants, claustrophobia)

medical condition that limits use of hands (ie, arthritis)

Active or recent (within 6 months) substance use disorder other than nicotine

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

Music video game
Behavioral
The video game \'Guitar Hero\' will be used as the platform for training for participants to acquire a new \'skill\'

Treatment groups

36 Participants

are divided into 2 treatment groups

Group A: Active trainingActive comparator 1 intervention

Group B: Observation trainingPlacebo comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

White matter microstructure

fractional anisotropy of white matter tracts as assessed with diffusion tensor imaging

Time frame

3 weeks

Secondary outcomes

Brain level of N-acetylaspartate

NAA levels in motor cortex of brain as measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Time frame

3 weeks

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Maryland, Baltimore

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov

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