Schizoaffective Disorder

This research aims to evaluate whether taking antipsychotic medication every other day is as effective as the usual daily dosing for people with schizophrenia or related disorders. The study also explores if the alternate day dosing reduces side effects compared to daily treatment. It is a randomized, double-blind trial designed to compare these two dosing schedules over one year. Participants will be randomly assigned to either continue their current daily antipsychotic medication risperidone, olanzapine, or paliperidone or switch to an alternate day dosing schedule. To maintain blinding, active medication and placebo capsules are provided in matching blister packs so participants and staff cannot tell which regimen is assigned. Doses range from 1 mg to 16 mg for risperidone, 5 mg to 20 mg for olanzapine, and 3 mg to 12 mg for paliperidone. Treatment is individualized, and other psychotropic medications can continue if stable. Participants will attend 22 visits over 52 weeks, with visits every two weeks for the first six months and monthly visits for the final six months. Researchers will assess symptom severity and side effects using several scales, including the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and multiple symptom and wellbeing questionnaires. The main outcome focuses on clinical deterioration at the start and end of the study. Safety and medication adherence will be closely monitored throughout the trial.

Researchers are investigating the use of 40 Hz visual stimulation as an add-on method to help improve negative symptoms, including cognitive difficulties, in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The study is a pilot trial comparing a group receiving visual stimulation with a group receiving their usual treatment. The goal is to assess whether this non-invasive brain stimulation method can influence brain activity patterns linked to symptoms and improve mood and cognition. Participants in the experimental group will undergo one hour of 40 Hz visual stimulation each day for five consecutive days using a customized sleep mask with red LEDs flickering at 40 Hz. They will lie down with their eyes closed and be encouraged to fall asleep during the stimulation. The control group will continue their usual treatment without additional intervention. The study includes pre- and post-assessments conducted before the first and after the last stimulation session. EEG brain activity will be recorded during the first and last stimulation sessions. Throughout the study, participants will complete mood and cognitive tests, and trained physicians will assess psychiatric symptoms. The visual stimulation sessions will be monitored for any side effects by asking participants about undesired effects after each session. EEG data will be analyzed to measure brain responses to the stimulation. The total study duration includes multiple assessment sessions before and after the stimulation week, providing detailed information on brain and symptom changes related to the intervention.

Cognitive impairment related to dementia is often missed in primary care, especially among older adults from minority and socio-economically disadvantaged populations. Researchers are evaluating the 5-Cog brief cognitive assessment, a quick, simple, and standardized tool that takes less than 5 minutes and addresses cultural and logistical barriers. This pragmatic cluster-randomized trial aims to test whether the 5-Cog paradigm improves detection of new cases of cognitive impairment and dementia care in older adults with cognitive concerns. The study involves 22 primary care clinics in Bronx and Indiana, enrolling about 6,600 patients aged 65 and older who report cognitive concerns. Participants receive either the 5-Cog battery combined with a clinical decision-making tool or enhanced usual care, which includes cognitive concern screening. The 5-Cog battery includes tests like Picture Memory Impairment Screen, Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome diagnosis, and Symbol Match. Primary care physicians receive results and decision support but use their clinical judgment in care decisions. Participants undergo cognitive concern screening before their appointments. Researchers will review new cognitive impairment diagnoses and improvements in dementia care within 90 days after the primary care visit using electronic medical records. Additional evaluations include tests for reversible causes, medication changes, specialist referrals, and social support. The study also examines the 5-Cog paradigms implementation and cost-effectiveness, focusing on populations facing health disparities. Total participation duration varies by patient and clinic schedule.

The GENESIS clinical study aims to map HLA genetic variation in the Greek population and evaluate possible correlations with selected underlying diseases. It is a multicenter, prospective, non-interventional clinical study targeting 12,000 subjects over an anticipated duration of 36 months, with the goal of creating a pilot HLA map for medical research and possible clinical applications. Each subject will complete one visit at a participating site and provide demographic information, including date of birth, gender, race, ancestry, height, and weight, as well as information about smoking or vaping, alcohol consumption, arterial blood pressure, diagnosed diseases, and current treatments. Recent clinical laboratory results from up to 12 months before sample collection may also be collected when available, including blood count, metabolic, liver enzyme, and biochemical parameters. Two buccal swabs will be collected from each subject for DNA extraction and HLA genotyping analysis. Selected DNA samples will also undergo low-pass whole genome sequencing to further investigate associations between the HLA region and autoimmune diseases. After the analysis is completed, an individualized ancestry report will be securely available to study subjects if they elect to access it.

Researchers are exploring how a digital life story application can support person-centred care for older adults with dementia. The study focuses on healthcare professionals perspectives and aims to see if the digital application can replace traditional written life story documents used in care. The life story tool is intended to help create security and improve communication between healthcare professionals and people with dementia by sharing important personal information and experiences. The study involves healthcare professionals who currently use a written life story in their daily care routines. They will participate in focus group interviews to share their experiences, then transfer information from the written life story to the digital application called Min Memoria. This digital tool will be tested in daily care settings, and researchers will observe how it is used during interactions and communication with older adults with dementia. Participants will be involved over several periods from October 2023 to August 2024, researchers will collect experiences of using the written life story from September 2024 to August 2025, usage data of the digital tool will be gathered and from September 2025 to December 2026, observations will be made on how the digital life story is used in care situations. The study will monitor these experiences and interactions to evaluate the potential benefits and application of the digital life story tool.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS on working memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairments MCI compared to cognitively healthy older adults. This mechanistic, randomized, double-blind crossover study aims to understand how acute tDCS influences brain function and working memory performance, using advanced neuroimaging and machine learning methods. The study will enroll 110 adults aged 60 to 95 years to explore brain structure, cognitive function, and neural plasticity during stimulation. Participants will receive two types of stimulation active tDCS and sham tDCS. Active tDCS involves applying a 2.0 mA electrical current for 12 minutes using electrodes placed on the scalp over specific brain regions. Sham stimulation mimics the sensation of tDCS but delivers only 30 seconds of current to prevent brain stimulation. Each participant will perform working memory tasks before, during, and after stimulation in a crossover design with sessions separated by at least two weeks. During the study, participants will undergo magnetic resonance imaging MRI to assess brain structure and function linked to working memory. Cognitive performance will be measured using N-back tasks at multiple time points. Researchers will monitor changes in working memory accuracy with active versus sham stimulation. The trial includes multiple visits for stimulation sessions and assessments, with participant involvement lasting until study completion in 2029. Safety and adherence will be monitored throughout the study.

Researchers are investigating the effects of a multidomain lifestyle intervention to slow cognitive decline and dementia risk in elderly residents aged 60 to 80 in Zhejiang Province, China. The study builds on findings from Finland, where a similar approach combining physical activity, nutrition, cognitive training, social activities, and vascular risk management showed promise in healthy older adults at risk of cognitive decline. This trial aims to explore how such an intervention may change brain structure and function as well as cognitive abilities in an Asian population. Participants are randomly assigned to either a structured multidomain intervention group or a self-guided control group. The intervention group receives tailored nutritional guidance, cognitive training, physical exercises, and vascular risk monitoring, all adapted to Chinese cultural norms. The control group receives regular health education campaigns and basic health monitoring every 6 to 12 months. This trial runs for two years with ongoing assessments to evaluate the impact of these lifestyle changes. During the study, participants undergo various evaluations including cognitive tests measuring global and domain-specific cognition, neuroimaging scans like MRI and fMRI, laboratory blood tests, and physical performance measures such as grip strength and gait speed. Questionnaires assess quality of life, depression, sleep quality, and daily activities. Researchers also monitor cardiovascular health, dementia onset, and falls. This comprehensive monitoring will help determine the interventions effects on brain health and daily functioning over the 24-month period.

Researchers are evaluating a combined sleep promotion and cognitive training intervention to help improve cognitive function in older survivors of intensive care units ICU. This study focuses on adults aged 60 and older who are at high risk for delirium and cognitive decline similar to mild Alzheimers disease after ICU discharge. The study aims to assess whether these interventions can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimers disease and related dementias by addressing sleep deficiency, inactivity, and circadian rhythm disturbances common in ICU survivors. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups a combination of nighttime sleep promotion using earplugs and eye masks plus daily 30-minute computerized cognitive training sessions cognitive training alone sleep promotion alone or an active control group receiving educational modules on brain health. The interventions last up to seven days following ICU discharge, with cognitive training sessions scheduled based on individual circadian rhythms measured by a wearable sensor. During the study, participants will be monitored using body temperature sensors to optimize the timing of cognitive training. Researchers will assess cognitive function, including executive function and working memory, at several time points within seven days after hospital discharge, and at one, six, and twelve months follow-up. The study also examines how sleep and activity may influence cognitive outcomes, with safety and ongoing care monitored throughout the study period, which concludes in May 2027.

Researchers are evaluating a peer-delivered recovery program called SUPPORT for Veterans with serious mental illness SMI, such as psychotic or bipolar disorders, who are at increased risk for suicide. The study aims to refine and pilot this intervention, which focuses on helping Veterans identify warning signs, develop wellness tools, and create personalized recovery plans to improve functional and social recovery and reduce suicidal thoughts. This study is conducted in two phases, including a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing SUPPORT with enhanced standard care. The SUPPORT intervention involves weekly 50-minute sessions led by a Peer Specialist who works closely with Veterans after a mental health evaluation. The Peer Specialist helps create a personalized suicide-focused recovery plan tailored to the Veterans experiences, using cognitive learning strategies to enhance safety plan recall and recovery. The comparison group receives enhanced standard care, which includes suicide risk assessments, safety planning, mental health referrals, and follow-up contacts. The study includes training Peer Specialists and gathering feedback from both Veterans and Peer Specialists. Participants will be assessed at baseline, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and three months after treatment using various questionnaires and interviews to measure recovery progress, suicidal ideation severity, and satisfaction with the intervention. Outcomes include feasibility of recruitment and retention, acceptability of SUPPORT, and changes in suicide ideation and personal recovery. The study lasts approximately five years, with ongoing monitoring and data collection throughout the intervention and follow-up periods.

Researchers are evaluating the effects of Resilience Training in college students aged 18 to 30 who have elevated risk factors for serious mental illnesses and experience psychotic symptoms. This study compares Resilience Training to another group program called Life Skills Training to see which better reduces symptoms and improves long-term mental health and academic success. The research also explores how the training impacts emotional responses and brain function related to psychosis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two four-week programs with weekly 90-minute group sessions. The Resilience Training group learns skills in mindfulness, self-compassion, and understanding thoughts and feelings. The Life Skills Training group receives information on practical topics like financial literacy, health, and safety. Both programs are designed to be active and time-matched to compare their effects. During the study, participants will complete a variety of assessments at baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. These include questionnaires measuring symptoms, mood, anxiety, suicidality, social functioning, and resilience, as well as brain imaging at selected time points. Researchers will also track academic performance and healthcare use. The study includes ongoing monitoring to evaluate changes in symptoms and overall functioning over two years.