378 Participants Needed

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy vs. Social Skills Training for Mental Illness

Recruiting at 4 trial locations
BS
JS
Overseen ByJennifer Sabbagh
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

To compare two evidence-based treatments, Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and Social Skills Training (SST) that have been shown in meta-analyses and in our own research to be effective to improve community functioning. The investigators will test the impact of CET and SST on community functioning, with special attention to their relative effectiveness for patients differing in baseline cognitive skills and age. The research uses a cluster design in which different mental health service centers are randomized to one of the two treatments.

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's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is Cognitive Enhancement Therapy or Social Skills Training safe for humans?

Research indicates that Cognitive Enhancement Therapy and Social Skills Training are generally safe for humans, as they have been used effectively in treating social and cognitive issues in conditions like schizophrenia without reported safety concerns.12345

How is Cognitive Enhancement Therapy different from other treatments for mental illness?

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) is unique because it focuses on improving social cognition and cognitive processes through interactive software and group exercises, targeting social and cognitive deficits that are not addressed by standard drug treatments for schizophrenia.13678

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for mental illness?

Research shows that Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) significantly improves emotional intelligence and reduces negative symptoms like social withdrawal in people with early course schizophrenia. These improvements suggest CET can help with social and cognitive challenges in schizophrenia.12358

Who Is on the Research Team?

MS

Matcheri S Keshavan, MD

Principal Investigator

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

RK

Russell K Schutt, PhD

Principal Investigator

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18 to 65 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorders, who have an IQ over 70. It's not suitable for those with brain syndromes, intellectual disabilities, or recent participation in the therapies being tested.

Inclusion Criteria

Estimated IQ of > 70 (established via WTAR)
I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia or a related disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

Participation in either CET or SST within the prior year.
Presence of a current organic brain syndrome
Intellectual disability (DSM-5)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) or Social Skills Training (SST) to improve community functioning

24 months
Regular visits at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Cognitive Enhancement Therapy
  • Social Skills Training
Trial Overview The study compares Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and Social Skills Training (SST), both known to improve community functioning in people with serious mental illness. Mental health centers are randomly chosen to use either CET or SST.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Cognitive Enhancement TherapyExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Social Skills TrainingActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials
872
Recruited
12,930,000+

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials
592
Recruited
27,110,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

This study compares the effectiveness of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) and Social Skills Training (HOPES/SST) in improving social and community functioning in individuals with schizophrenia, using a randomized cluster design over 12 months with groups of 6-8 clients.
The researchers hypothesize that CET will lead to greater improvements in community functioning and cognitive skills compared to SST, particularly benefiting younger individuals and those with more cognitive impairment at baseline.
Cognitive Enhancement Therapy vs social skills training in schizophrenia: a cluster randomized comparative effectiveness evaluation.Schutt, RK., Xie, H., Mueser, KT., et al.[2022]
Social skills training is an effective treatment for social dysfunction in psychiatric outpatients, showing benefits for up to 16 months after the intervention, and is more effective than other methods like short-term psychotherapy.
This training focuses on teaching new social behaviors through practice, and it is recommended as the preferred treatment for patients with social dysfunction, particularly when they do not have other major psychiatric disorders.
The treatment of social dysfunction in nonpsychotic outpatients. A review.Stravynski, A., Shahar, A.[2019]
Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) aims to improve social cognition in schizophrenia patients by using interactive software and group exercises, focusing on abstract thinking and social context understanding.
Preliminary observations suggest that CET effectively addresses cognitive deficits related to social interactions, potentially helping patients manage symptoms of schizophrenia more effectively.
Practice principles of cognitive enhancement therapy for schizophrenia.Hogarty, GE., Flesher, S.[2019]

Citations

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy vs social skills training in schizophrenia: a cluster randomized comparative effectiveness evaluation. [2022]
The treatment of social dysfunction in nonpsychotic outpatients. A review. [2019]
Practice principles of cognitive enhancement therapy for schizophrenia. [2019]
Cognitive enhancement therapy improves emotional intelligence in early course schizophrenia: preliminary effects. [2022]
Negative symptom improvement during cognitive rehabilitation: results from a 2-year trial of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy. [2021]
Mental health system funding of cognitive enhancement interventions for schizophrenia: summary and update of the New York Office of Mental Health expert panel and stakeholder meeting. [2018]
Confirmatory Efficacy of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Early Schizophrenia: Results From a Multisite Randomized Trial. [2023]
Psychological training to improve psychosocial function in patients with major depressive disorder: A randomised clinical trial. [2023]
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