Social Function Training for Psychosis

Overseen By Joanna M Fiszdon, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Substance use disorder, Developmental disability, Neurological illness, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 18

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine which of two training courses better improves social interactions and quality of life for individuals with psychotic spectrum disorders, such as schizophrenia. Participants will engage in either social cognitive training (USS) or problem-solving training (MovingForward) over two months. It is suitable for veterans diagnosed with a psychotic disorder who have been stable for at least 30 days. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding effective training methods for enhancing social skills and quality of life.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications. However, you must be psychiatrically stable, meaning no changes in psychiatric medication for at least 30 days before joining.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Studies have shown that both MovingForward and USS training are generally safe for people. MovingForward, a problem-solving course, has been successfully used by veterans. Research indicates it can reduce symptoms of depression and improve mental health without causing serious side effects.

Research also supports the safety of USS training, which is designed to help people with psychosis improve their social skills. Although specific safety data is limited, the training focuses on thinking skills and aims to minimize risks.

Both treatments are non-invasive and have been used without major safety concerns. Participants in past studies generally handled these trainings well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Social Function Training for Psychosis because it explores innovative approaches like MovingForward and USS to help those with psychosis improve their social skills. Unlike typical treatments that often involve medication, these approaches focus on cognitive and problem-solving training. USS is unique as it targets social cognition — the way individuals process social information — which is not commonly addressed by standard therapies. MovingForward offers problem-solving training, providing practical life skills that can empower individuals in their daily interactions. These non-medication strategies offer a fresh perspective on enhancing quality of life for those with psychosis.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving social function in psychosis?

This trial will compare two treatments: MovingForward and USS. Studies have shown that both MovingForward and USS can improve social skills in people with psychotic spectrum disorders. Research indicates that MovingForward, a type of problem-solving training, effectively boosts problem-solving abilities, resilience, and mental health. It has also significantly reduced depression and improved overall life functioning.

USS, another treatment option in this trial, focuses on training social thinking skills and has shown significant improvements in this area. Participants have reported high satisfaction with the training, which has effectively taught social skills. Both treatments have the potential to enhance daily interactions and quality of life for people dealing with psychosis. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Joanna M. Fiszdon, PhD

Principal Investigator

VA Connecticut Healthcare System West Haven Campus, West Haven, CT

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Veterans fluent in English who have been psychiatrically stable for at least 30 days and diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. They must be able to consent legally to participate. Those with developmental disabilities, current substance use disorders, severe sensory impairments, or other medical conditions affecting brain function cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a veteran diagnosed with a psychotic disorder.

I have been psychiatrically stable for at least 30 days.

fluent in English

Exclusion Criteria

You are currently struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.

currently enrolled in another treatment study targeting, or expected to impact, functioning.

I have not been diagnosed with any brain impairing conditions like dementia or severe head trauma.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants undergo one of two training courses focusing on social cognition or problem-solving strategies

8 weeks

16-20 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social functioning and skills after training

8 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• MovingForward
• USS

Trial Overview The study compares two different 2-month training programs designed to improve social functioning and quality of life in people with psychotic spectrum disorders. The effectiveness of USS versus MovingForward training courses will be evaluated.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: USS Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

social cognitive training

Group II: MovingForward Active Control 1 Intervention

problem solving training

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

Cognitive-behavioural social skills training (CBSST) was found to be feasible and well-accepted among 22 participants with first-episode psychosis over an 18-week program.

Participants showed significant improvements in adaptive functioning, which were maintained even 3 months after the program ended, suggesting potential long-term benefits of CBSST.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive-behavioural social skills training for first-episode psychosis: a feasibility study. Herman, Y., Shireen, H., Bromley, S., et al.[2019]

The Social Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFS) was developed as a quick and effective tool to measure social functioning in individuals with schizophrenia, which is crucial for their community living and overall outcomes.

The SOFS demonstrated strong reliability and validity, with a three-factor structure that includes adaptive living skills, social appropriateness, and interpersonal skills, explaining 59% of the variance in scores.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Social Occupational Functioning Scale (SOFS): a brief measure of functional status in persons with schizophrenia. Saraswat, N., Rao, K., Subbakrishna, DK., et al.[2022]

In a study of 101 schizophrenia patients undergoing community rehabilitation, improvements in social functioning were significantly associated with reductions in negative symptoms as measured by the PANSS scale.

Younger age at onset of schizophrenia and improvements in overall disability (WHODAS-II score) also contributed to better social functioning, highlighting the importance of addressing negative symptoms in treatment plans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Negative symptoms predict the improvement of social functioning of patients with schizophrenia]. He, Q., Chen, Y., Chow, SL., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8796046/

Web-Based Problem-solving Training With and Without ... Problem-solving confidence was associated with greater Moving Forward use and improvements in mental health symptoms among participants both ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1041610224033957

Problem-solving training for Veterans in home based ... Veterans completing at least five of six PST-HBPC sessions reported lower depressive symptom severity, lower functional difficulties due to depressive symptoms ...

3. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/280257404_Moving_forward_A_problem-solving_training_program_to_foster_veteran_resilience

Moving Forward: A Problem-Solving Training Program to ... Results: The mean post-training and 1-month follow-up scores for problem-solving, resilience, and self-efficacy of the students in the ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1440476/full

study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating a ... “Moving Forward: Overcoming Life's Challenges” is a free, web-delivered training developed by the VA as part of the Integrated Mental Health ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7649318/

Early Intervention in Psychosis: Effectiveness and ... The aim of this paper is to outline the development, implementation, and evaluation of a combined 12-week exercise and health behavior intervention

6. veterantraining.va.gov veterantraining.va.gov/movingforward/

Moving Forward: Overcome Life's Challenges Moving Forward is an online course that teaches skills to help you overcome stressful problems and meet your goals. The course is free and ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/364243076_Web-Based_Problem-solving_Training_With_and_Without_Peer_Support_in_Veterans_With_Unmet_Mental_Health_Needs_Pilot_Study_of_Feasibility_User_Acceptability_and_Participant_Engagement

Pilot Study of Feasibility, User Acceptability, and Participant ... Problem-solving confidence was associated with greater Moving Forward use and improvements in mental health symptoms among participants both with and without ...

8. veterantraining.va.gov veterantraining.va.gov/movingforward/about.asp

About the Project - Veteran Training This free educational and life coaching program is based on a highly effective cognitive behavioral treatment program that has been used successfully with ...