Pharmacologic and Clinical Testing of a D1 Agonist for Cognitive Enhancement in Neuropsychiatric...
SchizophreniaSchizoaffective DisorderThe investigators propose to recruit individuals with schizophrenia who are symptomatically stable and already taking medications to participate in this study. The investigators will recruit 90 individuals with schizophrenia and randomize them to low and high doses of DAR-0100A, as well as to placebo. The investigators will have them stay in the hospital for several weeks and receive up to 10 doses of DAR-0100A. The investigators will also test their cognition before and after receiving DAR-0100A to see if DAR-0100A is helpful and perform MRI scans before and after taking the medication to see which areas of the brain are activated when DAR-0100A is administered. These tests will be very important because they will help the investigators determine whether the D1 receptor is a good treatment target for schizophrenia and whether more research and resources should be devoted to finding medications that target this system. Patients with schizophrenia will be free of other medical, psychiatric and neurological disorders including alcohol and substance dependence, and will be able to understand the nature of the study and to provide informed consent.
Double-Blind Trial of a Probiotic Supplement to Reduce the Symptoms of Schizophrenia
SchizophreniaSchizoaffective DisorderThe investigators intend to explore the hypothesis that symptoms of schizophrenia may be reduced by the administration of a probiotic supplement when used in addition to standard antipsychotic medications.
A Comparison of Paliperidone and Risperidone for Treatment of Patirnts With Methamphetamine-Associated...
Methamphetamine DependenceMethamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP) has been considered a pharmacological or environmental pathogen model of schizophrenia (SCZ) due in part to similarities in clinical presentation (i.e. paranoia, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms), response to treatment (e.g.neuroleptics),and pathologic mechanisms (e.g. central dopaminergic neurotransmission) of both conditions. Both paliperidone and risperidone are second generation antipsychotics,but have same pharmacological effects of antipsychotic treatment and paliperidone may have more efficacy and safty.This study was designed to examine the acute efficacy, safety, and tolerability of paliperidone and risperidone for patients with MAP.
The Family VOICE Study
AutismAggression2 moreFamily centered mental health treatment with children values and supports the role of parents in their child's recovery. However, medications are often the primary focus in community treatment, even in preschool age youth, with increasing use of antipsychotic medication for serious mood and behavior problems. Although medication may be necessary to address safety issues (such as severe aggression) it can cause serious side effects, such as obesity, and medication only does not follow recommended care for these types of problems. Psychosocial treatments are highly recommended (e.g. Programs that coach empower parents to manage their child's difficult behaviors) as part of comprehensive child treatment. Parent involvement in psychosocial treatment has clear benefits for their child's mental health, and unlike medication, the effects can last long after treatment is completed. However, problems related to access (e.g. long waiting lists) and use (e.g. parent mistrust mental health services) of services are common. Maryland, like other states, has developed a system to improve medication safety by reviewing health information about the child to determine if the treatment is appropriate. This reduces unnecessary medication treatment and ensures children have adequate health screening before starting any treatment. Those approved for medication have moderate-severe mental health problems, which supports their need for comprehensive (medication and psychosocial) treatment, instead of medication only. In this study, investigators partner with parents/family advocates, child-serving agencies, and health providers to develop a Family Navigator (FN) Service to link with this medication program. A FN is an individual who has cared for their own child with mental illness. The FN supports parents, provide information on psychosocial treatment options, and address barriers to using services. The goals of this program are to improve use of psychosocial services, and to improve parent empowerment, support, and satisfaction with their child's mental health treatment. The investigators also expect that the FN Service will improve the child's overall mental health and reduce the likelihood of a medication dose increase or another medication added during the initial treatment period. The FN Service is provided for parents of public insured children ages 3-15 years newly approved for antipsychotic medication treatment. The FN Services will be provided by phone, which supports families in both rural and urban settings. The investigators' long term goal is to develop a FN program that strongly supports Family-centered treatment of children and can be used to help families in other underserved areas beyond Maryland.
Helping Those With Mental Illness Quit Smoking
SmokingNicotine Dependence1 moreThis study tests whether pre-cessation interventions known to be effective in the general population will increase acceptance of evidence-based treatment, engagement and compliance with that treatment and initial quitting success. One hundred and seventy two patients will be recruited from 13 Community Support Programs (CSPs). CSPs provide community based care to those diagnosed with persistent and serious mental illness. All participants will receive two group sessions (40 minutes each) modeled after "Kicking Butts", a group-based quitting preparation program used for the past four years in two Milwaukee CSP programs run by Wisconsin Community Services. Individuals will then be randomly assigned to the experimental and control conditions (n=86 each). Experimental subjects will receive four evidence-based preparatory interventions (motivational interviewing, smoking reduction, practice quit attempt, and pre-quit use of nicotine replacement medication) (25 - 30 minutes each). Attention control subjects will also receive four individual sessions of the same duration. However their individual sessions' content will be a discussion of the personal relevance of the group material and will not include any of the preparatory interventions. Data will be collected via brief surveys taken pre-intervention, at the end of the last individual session, and three months later and from a database provided by the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (WTQL).
A Study of GWP42003 as Adjunctive Therapy in the First Line Treatment of Schizophrenia or Related...
SchizophreniaSchizophrenia-related Psychotic DisorderA study to compare the change in symptom severity in participants with schizophrenia or related psychotic disorder when treated with GWP42003 or placebo in conjunction with existing anti-psychotic therapy over a period of six weeks.
Manualized Group Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Social Anxiety in First Episode Psychosis
Social PhobiaPsychosisSocial anxiety represents one of the most prevalent comorbid conditions in schizophrenia and related psychosis. Schizophrenia patients with comorbid social anxiety often exhibit impaired social functioning, an increased risk for relapse, and higher rates of suicide. Social anxiety is a treatable condition but has, in the context of psychosis, received only scant attention thus far. There is strong evidence that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for the treatment of social anxiety is very effective, whether it is delivered individually or in a group setting, and studies have shown that a group setting is more effective than individual therapy. Providing a CBT intervention for social anxiety represents an effective way to empower people with this illness. The investigators have conducted a preliminary study using an uncontrolled design to assess feasibility and initial benefits of a new manualized group CBT intervention for social anxiety specifically adapted for people with psychosis. The investigators observed a significant reduction in social anxiety symptoms across three groups of first episode psychosis (FEP) participants (n=29) following completion of this 13-week intervention, and observed large effect sizes confirming a significant positive influence of this intervention. The investigators now propose to conduct a randomized controlled trial to fully assess the efficacy of this intervention. The main objective of this research proposal is to contrast the impact of a CBT intervention for the treatment of social anxiety in first episode psychosis with another control condition involving computer assisted cognitive remediation therapy (CACRT). Both interventions will be offered in a group setting, and will therefore have the exact same parameters. A secondary objective of this study is to examine the impact of reduced social anxiety on measures of clinical and functional outcome. For this trial, 120 patients with recent onset psychotic disorder (defined as within 5 years from their first episode of psychosis) and with social anxiety will be clinically assessed. These participants will be recruited from five different first episode psychosis programs in the Montreal area and referred by their treatment team. They will then be randomly assigned to either the CBT or CACRT conditions. Both interventions will involve 13 weekly group sessions. At the end of group interventions and at two follow-ups (3-month & 6-month), the presence and severity of social anxiety symptoms will be assessed. It is hypothesized that compared to the CACRT group, individuals receiving the CBT intervention will show a reduction in symptoms associated with social anxiety (as determined with multiple self-report and clinician rated measures). This effect will be maintained at follow-ups. In addition, the investigators also hypothesize that the CBT group will show better clinical outcome, defined as the length of symptomatic remission at follow-ups. For functional outcome, they will show significant improvement on a self-report measure a clinician-rated measure of recovery. This study will be one of the first to specifically target social anxiety in people with psychosis using a psychosocial intervention. As such, it will tackle an important problem that is interfering with recovery and with the actualization of functional roles.
A Multi-modal Approach to Addressing Cardiovascular Risk and Building Resilience in Youths With...
SchizophreniaPsychotic DisordersThe purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility (≥ 50% completion rate) of a 6-week nutrition, movement, and mindfulness program for youth with recent diagnosis of psychosis.
NBI-98854 for the Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia in Subjects With Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective...
Tardive DyskinesiaThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of two doses (12.5 and 50 mg) of NBI-98854 administered once daily (q.d.) for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia in subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.
Bergen Psychosis Project 2 - The Best Intro Study
SchizophreniaPsychotic DisordersIn the Bergen Psychosis Project 2 the antipsychotic drugs aripiprazole, amisulpride, and olanzapine will be compared head-to-head in patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses and followed for 12 months. The study is independent of the pharmaceutical industry, and in accordance with a pragmatic design a clinically relevant sample will be included with as few exclusion criteria as possible. The patients will be assessed repeatedly with regards to symptoms, side effects, and cognitive functioning, as well as laboratory parameters. The study hypothesis is that clinically meaningful differences among the drugs will be disclosed in a pragmatic design.