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Brain Functions Underlying Visuospatial Attention Deficits in Schizophrenia

This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified April 2013 by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Sponsor:
Information provided by:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT01399437
First received: July 20, 2011
Last updated: April 26, 2013
Last verified: April 2013
History of Changes
  Purpose

Background:

- A special brain circuit is important for helping us keeping an eye open for things that are going on around us, even when we are not directly paying attention to them. This circuit seems to work differently in people with schizophrenia than in other people, which may explain specific deficits with broad monitoring observed in people with schizophrenia. Researchers want to compare brain function in people with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers to find out more about how these brain circuits work and affect attention.

Objectives:

- To study how the brain performs broad visual monitoring in people with schizophrenia.

Eligibility:

  • Individuals between 18 to 55 years of age who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
  • Healthy volunteers between 18 and 55.

Design:

  • Participants will be screened with physical and psychological exams. They will have a medical history. Tests for drug and alcohol use will also be done.
  • Participants will have two study visits. The first is a training visit and the second is a scanning visit.
  • At the training visit, participants will practice computer-based tests of focus, memory, and concentration. They will also answer questions about mood, psychiatric symptoms, and smoking habits.
  • At the scanning visit, participants will perform the computer-based tasks that they practiced at the training visit. They will have magnetic resonance imaging while they perform these tasks.

Condition
Schizophrenia

Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Default Network Dysfunction Underlying Visuospatial Attention Deficits in Schizophrenia

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Schizophrenia
U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment: 70
Study Start Date: July 2011
Detailed Description:

Objective: To test a neural circuit explanation for a visuospatial attention abnormality seen in schizophrenia. Specifically, the aim is to test whether broad monitoring deficits may be based on a disruption of the so-called sentinel function of the default network. Because the default network is modulated by nicotinic compounds, such finding would implicate a possible remediation strategy.

Study population: 24 people with schizophrenia, 24 matched healthy control subjects.

Design: A group comparison of attention task performance and associated brain activity as measured by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Outcome measures: Measures of attention task performance (reaction time, accuracy), BOLD signal within regions of the default network, degree of temporal association of BOLD signal with trial-by-trial reaction time.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 55 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

All participants:

  1. Age 18 through 55.

  2. Normal or corrected to normal visual acuity (at least 20/80)

    Participants with menat illness:

  3. DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
  4. Ability to give written informed consent
  5. Four week of stable pharmacological treatment (same psychiatric medication at same dose or no medication)

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

All participants:

  1. Presence of ferromagnetic metal objects in the body, implanted electronic devices or any other counter -indication for MRI.
  2. Claustrophobia
  3. Left handed or ambidextrous
  4. History of myocardial infarction or heart failur, which may cause asymptomatic brain lesions
  5. Uncontrolled high blood pressure (resting systolic greater than 150 or diastolic greater than 90 mm Hg)
  6. Neurological conditions likely to impair cognitive function such as stroke, seizures, dementia or organic brian syndrome
  7. Any condition likely to impair cognitive function such as mental retardation or severe pharmacological sedation
  8. Current use of vasodilating beta-blockers (carvedilol, labetalol or nebivolol)
  9. Alcohol or substance abuse or dependence other than nicotine within the last 6 months

  10. Pregnancy, verified by urin pregnancy test for females during screening and on the day of the scan.

    Healthy Controls:

  11. Current psychiatric Axis I disorder or Axis II schizophrenia spectrum disorder, verified by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID)
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01399437

Contacts
Contact: Britta Hahn, Ph.D. (410) 402-6112 bhahn@mprc.umaryland.edu
Contact: Elliot Stein, Ph.D. (443) 740-2650 estein@mail.nih.gov

Locations
United States, Maryland
Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) 55 Wade Avenue Recruiting
Catonsville, Maryland, United States, 21228
Contact: Britta Hahn, Ph.D.     410-402-6112     bhahn@mprc.umaryland.edu    
Sponsors and Collaborators
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Elliot Stein, Ph.D. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  More Information

Publications:

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01399437     History of Changes
Other Study ID Numbers: 999911470, 11-DA-N470
Study First Received: July 20, 2011
Last Updated: April 26, 2013
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Default Network
Schizophrenia
fMRI
Spatial Attention
Sentinel Function

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia and Disorders with Psychotic Features
Mental Disorders

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013