Producing Increasingly Complex Themes Using Right-hemisphere Engagement (PICTURE) Implemented With Telemedicine

Launched by JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · Apr 25, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The PICTURE trial is studying two different types of language therapy to see which one helps people with aphasia after a stroke more effectively. Aphasia is a condition that affects a person's ability to speak and understand language, often following a stroke. This study will compare a new therapy that engages the right side of the brain with a computer-based therapy that has been shown to help with naming objects. The goal is to find out which treatment better improves communication skills in people who have had a stroke.

To participate in this trial, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with aphasia due to a stroke that occurred between one month and four months ago, or more than six months ago. They also need to have difficulty naming things, as indicated by specific tests. Participants should be able to understand therapy tasks and give consent for themselves or have someone else do it for them. All genders are welcome in this study, and those interested can expect to engage in different therapy sessions, with their progress assessed by professionals who do not know which treatment they are receiving. If you or someone you know fits these criteria, this trial could be a valuable opportunity to help improve communication skills after a stroke.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Diagnosis of aphasia secondary to stroke and presence of naming deficits (at least 20% errors on the Boston Naming Test or Hopkins Action Naming Assessment)
• • 2. Capable of giving informed consent or indicating another to provide informed consent
• • 3. Age 18 or older
• • 4. The stroke must have occurred between 1 month and 4 months prior to enrollment in the study or more than 6 months prior to enrollment in the study
• • 5. Able to understand therapy tasks (as indicated by 5 probes of each)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Lack of English proficiency (by self/legally authorized representative report)
• • 2. Prior history of neurologic disease affecting the brain (e.g., brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury) other than stroke
• • 3. Prior history of severe psychiatric illness, developmental disorders or intellectual disability (e.g., PTSD, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders)
• • 4. Uncorrected severe visual loss or hearing loss by self-report and medical records