Decision-Making in Schizophrenia: A Combined Neuroimaging and Experience Sampling Study

Launched by RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY · Dec 17, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how attention and thinking patterns affect decision-making in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder compared to those without these conditions. Researchers want to know if focusing on certain information or using specific thinking strategies can help improve decision-making and brain activity. They will look at how the brain works during decision-making tasks and how that relates to real-life choices people make every day.

To participate, individuals should be between 18 and 45 years old, able to understand and communicate in English, and willing to follow the study procedures. Participants will undergo interviews and cognitive tests, complete gambling decision tasks while their brain activity is scanned, and answer brief surveys about their daily feelings and activities over a week. This study aims to gather insights that could help improve decision-making for those living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion Criteria
• The following criteria apply to all subjects:
• • 1. Between ages of 18-45.
• • 2. Have capacity to provide informed consent
• • 3. Fluent communication in English
• • 4. Willingness and ability to follow study requirements, as evidenced by an ability to provide written or virtual informed consent and read, and complete, study procedures.
• • 5. Cognitive ability to understand tasks and estimated IQ greater than 70.
• The following criteria apply to subjects with schizophrenia:
• • 1. Primary diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• The following additional criteria apply to subjects without schizophrenia:
• • 1. Inclusion based on subject matched to psychiatric group based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education level.
• • Exclusion Criteria
• The following criteria apply to all subjects:
• • 1. Self-disclosed or noticeable intoxication from alcohol or illicit drugs (e.g., arriving to participate in the study drunk/high)
• • 2. Self-disclosure of consistent current substance use other than nicotine, alcohol, or cannabis (e.g. cocaine, heroin).
• • 3. Many-year history of severely disordered substance use other than nicotine/tobacco (determined via interview)
• • 4. Significant physical health disorder, robust physical health conditions, neurological disease/disorder (e.g., Parkinson's, history of strokes).
• • 5. History of traumatic brain injury, head injury resulting in loss of consciousness for an extended duration or with noted neurobehavioral consequences.
• • 6. Electroconvulsive therapy within one month of participation.
• • 7. History of seizures or epilepsy.
• • 8. Currently untreated or unstable psychiatric and medical conditions.
• • 9. Intellectual disability
• • 10. Contra indications for MR imaging (detailed below)
• The following additional criteria apply to subjects without schizophrenia:
• • 1. Pervasive history of problematic substance use (other than nicotine or alcohol) as defined by meeting DSM-5 criteria for a substance use disorder.
• • 2. Diagnosis of, or first-degree relative with, significant psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, or Cluster A personality disorder).