Improving Cognition Through Telehealth Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Training After a First Schizophrenia Episode

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES · May 25, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how telehealth can help improve thinking skills in people who have recently experienced their first episode of schizophrenia or similar disorders. The study will last for 12 months and will involve patients receiving cognitive training, which is designed to enhance mental skills. Half of the participants will also take part in aerobic exercise and strength training, while the other half will focus on general healthy living. The goal is to see if these activities can boost brain health and engagement in treatment, as well as to measure changes in a specific brain protein that indicates brain growth and improvement.

To be eligible for this study, participants should be between 18 and 45 years old, have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder within the last two years, and live close enough to the UCLA Aftercare Research Program. Participants will join the study through video sessions, making it convenient and accessible. They can expect to receive personalized reminders to help them stay active and motivated throughout the program. This trial aims not only to improve participants’ cognitive abilities but also to provide a supportive community to help them apply what they learn to their daily lives.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. a first episode of a psychotic illness that began within the past three years;
• • 2. a diagnosis by DSM-5 of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder;
• • 3. age 18 to 45 years of age;
• • 4. sufficient acculturation and fluency in the English language to avoid invalidating research measures; and
• • 5. residence likely to be within commuting distance of the UCLA Aftercare Research Program.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. premorbid IQ less than 70;
• • 2. evidence of a known neurological disorder (e.g., epilepsy) or significant head injury;
• • 3. evidence of moderate or severe substance use disorder within the six months prior to the first episode or evidence of a substance-induced psychosis.