tDCS and Executive Function Training for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder, Schizophrenia and Related Disorders
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia focused on measuring Schizophrenia, Cognitive remediation, Transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCs, CR, cognitive rehabilitation, executive function training, ET
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- those who meet the criteria of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or any other psychotic disorder based on the DSM-V criteria
- 18-65 years of age
- know how to use a computer
- are not abusing drugs or alcohol (criteria met for abuse in the last month)
- can read and speak English
Exclusion Criteria:
- anyone enrolled in a cognitive training program in the last 6 months
- anyone with a neurological disease or neurological damage, medical illnesses that can change neurocognitive function, medical history of head injury with loss of consciousness
- with a neurological disease or neurological damage, medical illnesses that can change neurocognitive function, medical history of head injury with loss of consciousness
- those with a seizure disorder
- those who are pregnant
- those with psychotic symptoms that in the opinion of the study psychiatrist, would impose risk of distress and/or decompensation of psychosis (e.g. delusion of influence through electricity)
Sites / Locations
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores)Recruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Actual tDCs + ET
Sham tDCs + ET
All interventions will involve 4 weeks of group intervention consisting of two 1-hour group sessions per week and additional practice between sessions. Half of study participants will be randomized to receive 30 minutes of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) prior to beginning each ET session. ET session will begin immediately after tDCS.
All interventions will involve 4 weeks of group intervention consisting of two 1-hour group sessions per week and additional practice between sessions. Half of study participants will be randomized to receive 30 minutes of sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) prior to beginning each ET session. ET session will begin immediately after tDCS. During the sham tDCS, the procedures will be exactly the same as the real tDCS (e.g., application of electrodes), however, no stimulation will be provided when the device turned on.