Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Schizophrenia: Effects on EEG and Emotional Regulation
Recruiting · NCT06936397 · Interventional (participants receive a specific treatment) · Lead sponsor: Beykoz University
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov →Interventions studied
What this trial is about
This study aims to determine whether Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) can improve attention, memory, and emotional regulation in people with schizophrenia. CRT is a structured program that includes exercises to strengthen cognitive skills such as problem-solving, working memory, and emotion regulation. The study will recruit 60 participants: 30 individuals with schizophrenia and 30 healthy individuals of similar age and gender. Those with schizophrenia will be randomly assigned to either receive CRT or be placed on a waitlist without therapy. All participants will undergo non-invasive brain activity (EEG) and emotional response (GSR) recordings before and after the therapy. The study's main question is: Does participating in a 12-week CRT program improve brain-based markers of attention and emotional regulation in people with schizophrenia? Additional tests, such as memory and emotion recognition tasks and self-report questionnaires, will help assess changes in thinking skills and emotional well-being. The study may help better understand how CRT affects both brain function and quality of life in schizophrenia.
Who can take part
Inclusion criteria
- Schizophrenia Group):
- Diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria
- Age between 18 and 55 years
- Clinically stable (no hospitalization or medication change within 1 month)
- Minimum primary school education
- Able to provide informed consent
- Right-handed (for EEG protocol consistency)
- Inclusion Criteria (Healthy Control Group):
- No history of psychiatric or neurological disorders
- Age- and gender-matched to schizophrenia group
- No current medication affecting CNS
- Able to provide informed consent
- Right-handed
Exclusion criteria
- Both Groups):
- Current or past substance use disorder (within the past year)
- Comorbid neurological illness (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury)
- Current use of benzodiazepines or medications that significantly affect cognitive function
- Intellectual disability or MoCA score \< 20
- Visual or hearing impairments that could interfere with task performance
- Participation in a psychological intervention in the last 3 months
Where it is running
1 location listed.
- Beykoz University - Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)