Targeting Processing Speed Deficits to Improve Social Functioning and Lower Psychosis Risk in Adolescents at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Summary

This 10 week intervention, Specific Cognitive Remediation with Surround (or SCORES), is designed to target processing speed, a cognitive domain related directly to social functioning, which in turn, represents a vulnerability factor for psychosis. This remotely-delivered intervention combining targeted cognitive training exercises and group support was developed to directly impact processing speed, and at the same time, boost motivation and engagement in adolescents at risk for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

Description

Eligibility

Age range

14–20 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

No

Interventions

• Behavioral
  SCORES (Specific COgnitive Remediation with Support)

  This study evaluates the effectiveness of a 10-week cognitive remediation program plus group coaching and therapy to improve processing speed and, in turn, social functioning and attenuated positive symptoms in CHR subjects. The SCORES (Specific COgnitive Remediation with Support) intervention is a novel CR program combined with group coaching, performance-based rewards, game-like tasks, and therapy elements to increase engagement and retention. In the 2 year, R61 phase, all participants will complete 40 hours of CR (4 hrs per week) with a mid-point assessment (20 hours of CR at 5 weeks) to determine the impact of CR on processing speed as measured by the MCCB. The second phase of the study (R33) will compare the 40 hours of speeded brain training to 40 hours of non-speeded brain training. This three year study will allow for a replication and assessment of specificity of the targeted intervention.

Location