Improving Negative Symptoms & Community Engagement in Veterans With Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, Serious Mental Illness
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia focused on measuring Schizophrenia, Negative Symptoms
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders, 5th edition (DSM 5) diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
A minimum average rating of a "moderately severe deficit" (3 or greater on a 0-4 scale) on one symptom domain or a minimum average rating of a "moderate deficit" (2 or greater on a 0-4 scale) on two or more domains, within the affect motivation factor of the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) i.e.,:
- symptoms of asociality
- avolition
- anhedonia
- Age between 18 and 75 years
- Seen by a service provider twice within the last 6 months or once in the last 6 months consistently for two years, as in line with the Veteran's recorded mental health treatment plan (to demonstrate that participants receive ongoing and regular mental health care)
- Competent to sign Informed Consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Documented history of serious neurological disorder or head trauma with loss of consciousness
- Cognitive impairment (defined as a total intelligence quotient (IQ) score less than 70 as measured by the Wechsler Test of Adult Reading or as indicated by chart review
- Inability to effectively participate in the baseline assessments due to psychiatric symptoms on two successive appointments
- Current problematic substance use as indexed by scores on the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test and the Drug Abuse Screening Test
- Currently meet criteria for a major depressive episode
Sites / Locations
- Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Engaging in Community Roles and Experiences (ENCoRE)
Health & Wellness (H&W)
Engaging in Community Roles and Experiences (ENCoRE) includes evidence-based psychosocial treatment strategies to target the affective-motivational deficits, negative expectancies, and behavioral skills deficits that are central to the maintenance of negative symptoms. Behavioral strategies include motivational enhancement, psychoeducation, cognitive therapy, and social skills training.
Health & Wellness (H&W) will focus on health and wellness issues and education on ways to better manage health-related concerns following a basic structure that includes: review of the previous session's material, new educational content, and discussion/application. Topics will include: 1) Overview, 2) Physical Activity (3 sessions), 3) Nutrition/Healthy Eating (3 sessions), 4) Managing Fatigue/Sleep (3 sessions), 5) Relaxation (3 sessions), 6) Tobacco cessation (3 sessions), 7) Substance Use (3 sessions), 8) Medication/Side Effects (3 sessions), 9) Review (1 session), and Closing (1session).