Social-Cognitive Skills Training for Schizophrenia

Overseen By Tasha M Nienow, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Traumatic brain injury, Neurological disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 23

Duration: 13 weeks

20 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to help Veterans with serious mental illness improve their social skills, particularly in work settings. It adapts the existing Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition (SCIT-WE) program to focus on job-related interactions, teaching participants how to better understand and engage with others at work. Veterans who receive mental health services at the Minneapolis VA, are motivated to work, and have conditions like schizophrenia or PTSD may be well-suited for this trial. The researchers aim to enhance their quality of life and work relationships while they search for jobs. As an unphased trial, this study offers Veterans a unique opportunity to improve their work-related social skills and potentially enhance their job prospects.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

What prior data suggests that this social cognitive skills training is safe for Veterans?

Research has shown that Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT), adapted in this study, has been safely used with individuals who have schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. SCIT is a group therapy designed to improve understanding and interaction in social situations. Studies have found that participants generally tolerate SCIT well, with no major safety issues reported. Since SCIT-Work Edition (SCIT-WE) is based on this existing program, it is expected to be similarly safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition (SCIT-WE) is unique because it focuses on enhancing social-cognitive skills specifically in a work setting for individuals with schizophrenia. Unlike typical treatments that often rely on medication to manage symptoms, SCIT-WE is a group-based skills training program that targets the social interaction difficulties faced by those with schizophrenia, particularly in employment environments. Researchers are excited about SCIT-WE because it addresses a critical gap by helping participants develop practical social skills that can improve their job performance and overall quality of life, offering a complementary approach to traditional medication-based treatments.

What evidence suggests that this social-cognitive skills training is effective for schizophrenia?

Research shows that Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) helps people with schizophrenia improve their social skills. Participants become better at recognizing facial expressions and understanding others' thoughts. This improvement is crucial for more effective social interactions. Studies also suggest that SCIT benefits people with other mental health conditions, not just schizophrenia. This training can enhance quality of life by improving social and work relationships. Overall, evidence indicates that SCIT could be a promising way to boost social skills in those with serious mental health issues. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Tasha Marie Nienow, PhD

Principal Investigator

Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Veterans at the Minneapolis VA with serious mental illnesses like Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, or PTSD who are motivated to work. They must be outpatients seeking employment within 30 miles of the center and able to understand English well enough to participate in group interventions.

Inclusion Criteria

Veterans who are outpatients and enrolled to receive supported services at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System

Veterans receiving services from a mental health team at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, motivated to pursue employment, and seeking employment within 30 miles of the medical center

I am a veteran diagnosed with a major mental health condition.

Exclusion Criteria

Presence of a cognitively compromising neurological disease

Presence of a guardian of person

Behavior that prevents participation in a group intervention

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition (SCIT-WE) for 2 hours weekly over 13 weeks, focusing on work-related social cognitive skills.

13 weeks

13 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants complete 10 skills review sessions with their employment specialist to encourage continued skill application in a work setting.

3 months

10 visits (in-person)

Long-term Follow-up

Participants are monitored for retention in supported employment and changes in quality of life, social adjustment, and self-efficacy.

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition (SCIT-WE)

Trial Overview The study tests a social skills training program called SCIT-WE, designed specifically for Veterans aiming to improve their work-related social interactions. It involves weekly group sessions over 13 weeks, individual homework reviews, and follow-up skill application sessions with an employment specialist.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition is a group-based, skills training group that will be offered to participants after they enroll in supported employment.

Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition (SCIT-WE) is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Social Cognition and Interaction Training-Work Edition for:

• Serious Mental Illness
• Schizophrenia
• Psychotic Disorders

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a randomized controlled trial involving 120 adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, Social Cognition Interaction Training (SCIT) did not show significant improvements in social cognition or social functioning compared to Befriending Therapy after 12 weeks of treatment.

Both SCIT and Befriending Therapy showed trends of improvement over time, but these changes were not statistically significant, indicating that further modifications to SCIT may be needed to enhance its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized controlled trial of social cognition and interaction training compared to befriending group. Dark, F., Scott, JG., Baker, A., et al.[2022]

The pilot study involving 36 participants with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders showed that Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is highly acceptable, with an 85.71% completion rate and strong engagement in a public mental health setting.

While SCIT did not show significant differences in outcomes compared to treatment as usual, participants demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life, emotion recognition, and social skills from pre- to post-intervention, with these gains maintained at a 4-month follow-up.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized waitlist control community study of Social Cognition and Interaction Training for people with schizophrenia. Gordon, A., Davis, PJ., Patterson, S., et al.[2022]

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) was found to be feasible and well-accepted among 33 patients with psychotic disorders in Finland, showing high attendance and low dropout rates.

Participants demonstrated significant improvements in emotion perception and Theory of Mind after SCIT, suggesting that this treatment can effectively enhance social cognitive skills in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) for Adults with Psychotic Disorders: A Feasibility Study in Finland. Voutilainen, G., Kouhia, T., Roberts, DL., et al.[2018]

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a feasible and well-accepted intervention for improving social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia in forensic wards, with participants reporting increased confidence and achievement of social goals.

Participants receiving SCIT showed significant improvements in facial affect recognition compared to those receiving treatment as usual, highlighting its potential efficacy in enhancing social cognition skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tackling Social Cognition in Schizophrenia: A Randomized Feasibility Trial. Taylor, R., Cella, M., Csipke, E., et al.[2022]

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) shows promise in improving social cognition, particularly in emotion perception and Theory of Mind, among individuals with schizophrenia in community settings, based on a study involving 50 participants.

The study indicates that SCIT is transportable and acceptable in real-world clinical practice, leading to its integration into routine programming at several clinics.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Transportability and feasibility of Social Cognition And Interaction Training (SCIT) in community settings. Roberts, DL., Penn, DL., Labate, D., et al.[2022]

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) shows promise in addressing social cognitive deficits in individuals with schizophrenia, but its application in a community mental health setting faced significant challenges.

Despite these challenges, some participants found SCIT valuable and relevant, indicating potential benefits that warrant further research to better integrate this therapy into public psychiatric practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving the social cognitive deficits of schizophrenia: a community trial of Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT). Parker, S., Foley, S., Walker, P., et al.[2018]

A quasi-experimental study involving 31 outpatients with schizophrenia showed that Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) combined with standard treatment significantly improved emotion perception and social skills compared to standard treatment alone.

SCIT is a promising intervention targeting social cognition, which may lead to better social functioning outcomes in individuals with schizophrenia, addressing a core deficit that traditional treatments have not effectively improved.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) for outpatients with schizophrenia: a preliminary study. Roberts, DL., Penn, DL.[2022]

Citations

1. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1217735/full

Efficacy of social cognition and interaction training in ... Given the relationship between social cognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia, a number of social cognitive interventions have been ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9398779/

The Effect of Social Cognitive Interaction Training ... Based on the improvement of social function in patients with mental illness, SCIT can be applied not only to patients with schizophrenia but ...

3. penn.web.unc.edu penn.web.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/7337/2021/11/Social-cognition-and-interaction-training-SCIT-versus-training-in-affect-recognition-TAR-in-patients-with-schizophrenia-A-randomized-controlled-trial-.pdf

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) versus ... Objectives: We aim to compare the efficacy of TAR and SCIT on schizophrenia patients' performance on facial affect recognition, theory of mind, ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996406005172

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) for ... Discussion. The study provides preliminary data on the efficacy of SCIT in a sample of forensic inpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Using a ...

5. elsevier.es elsevier.es/en-revista-european-journal-psychiatry-431-articulo-the-efficacy-social-skills-training-S0213616323000599

The efficacy of social skills training (SST) and ... A randomized, controlled trial of social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) for outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Br J Clin Psychol ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34332374/

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) versus ... Both TAR and SCIT ... Keywords: Facial affect recognition; Psychosis; Rehabilitation; Schizophrenia; Social cognition; Theory of mind; Training.

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19272654/

Social cognition and interaction training (SCIT) for ... SCIT is a 20-week, manualized, group treatment designed to improve social functioning in schizophrenia by way of improved social cognition.

8. amazon.com amazon.com/Social-Cognition-Interaction-Training-SCIT/dp/0199346623

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT): Group ... Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group psychotherapy for individuals with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Social cognition ...

9. penn.web.unc.edu penn.web.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/7337/2014/07/Social-Cognition-and-Interaction-Training-for-inpatients-with-schizophrenia-spectrum-disorders-Preliminary-findings.pdf

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) for ... Individuals with schizophrenia exhibit consistent deficits in social cognition such as emotion perception, attributional style, and.