EEG for Schizophrenia

Overseen By Edmund Lalor, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Rochester

Must not be taking: Antidepressants, Mood stabilizers, Antipsychotics, Benzodiazepines

Disqualifiers: Substance use, Suicidal risk, Neurological conditions, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

84 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores new methods to identify signs of psychosis in individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder using electroencephalography (EEG), which measures brain activity. The goal is to discover new markers that could enhance diagnosis and understanding of these conditions. Participants diagnosed with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, or bipolar disorder, who have clear vision and no major comprehension issues, may be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research that could improve future diagnostic methods.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are a healthy control subject or a case-match control non-ill subject, you should not have used daily antidepressants, mood stabilizers, or antipsychotic medications in the last 6 months, or benzodiazepines in the last 2 days.

What prior data suggests that EEG is safe for identifying markers of psychosis?

Research shows that electroencephalography (EEG) is a safe method for studying brain activity. Studies have found that EEG can help detect mental health conditions like schizophrenia and epilepsy. During an EEG, researchers ensure safety by using sensors on the head with very low electrical levels, resulting in minimal risk.

EEG is non-invasive, meaning it doesn't involve surgery or entering the body. Most people tolerate it well, and side effects are rare. Its widespread use in hospitals and research supports its safety. Therefore, if considering participation in a trial using EEG, research indicates that the procedure is safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using EEG (electroencephalography) for schizophrenia because it offers a new way to understand and potentially treat the condition. Unlike standard treatments such as antipsychotic medications, which target brain chemistry, EEG provides real-time insights into brain activity patterns. This approach could lead to more personalized treatment strategies by identifying specific brain wave abnormalities associated with schizophrenia. By focusing on brain function directly, EEG has the potential to improve symptom management and offer new avenues for intervention.

What evidence suggests that EEG is effective for identifying markers of psychosis in schizophrenia?

Research has shown that EEG, a test that records brain activity, can help diagnose schizophrenia by identifying patterns specific to the condition. One study found that using EEG alongside medication improved symptoms of schizophrenia. Another study used advanced computer analysis of EEG data, enhancing the accuracy and speed of diagnosing schizophrenia. Additionally, EEG training helps patients learn to control their symptoms better. This trial will explore the use of EEG in understanding and treating schizophrenia, building on findings that suggest EEG could be a valuable tool in this area. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-65 with good English skills, visual acuity of at least 20/32, and diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder or Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders as per DSM-5. Excluded are those with significant head injuries, intellectual impairments, recent substance abuse or suicidal behavior, current manic states, certain neurological conditions or treatments like ECT within the last 8 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria

Subjects with 20/32 visual acuity or better (using in-house optical correction, if necessary)

Subjects with Bipolar Disorder meeting DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder (type I, II, or unspecified) as confirmed by the Structured Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5)

I have been diagnosed with a type of Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorder.

Exclusion Criteria

Head injury with loss of consciousness greater than 10 minutes (at the discretion of the experimenter)

Subject cannot read and understand the instructions well enough to complete the tasks or cannot provide informed consent

Intellectual impairment (WRAT-5 score < 70) (at the discretion of experimenter)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

EEG Assessment

Participants undergo electroencephalography (EEG) to identify novel markers of psychosis

1-2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after EEG assessment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• EEG

Trial Overview The study uses EEG to measure visual processing in an attempt to find new markers for psychosis. Participants will be individuals diagnosed with mood disorders or at high risk for psychosis who meet specific criteria outlined by the researchers.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: All participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Rochester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

883

Recruited

555,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11985524/

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of EEG ... Conclusion. EEG-NF combined with pharmacological treatment effectively improves schizophrenia symptoms. A regimen of ≥4 sessions/week for ≥8 ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-021-83350-6

A hybrid deep neural network for classification of ... Compared with the healthy control group, schizophrenic patients have more active brain activity and are more likely to generate new EEG signal ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0920996424003220

Identification and diagnosis of schizophrenia based on ... The study analyzed EEG data collected from 45 patients with schizophrenia and 39 healthy participants. The classifier was performed with both data sets ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11278179/

A Systematic Review of the Effects of EEG Neurofeedback on ... The study concludes that schizophrenic patients can learn to self-regulate their SCPs effectively after sufficient training, similar to healthy ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2079-9292/11/14/2265

EEG-Based Schizophrenia Diagnosis through Time Series ... In this study, a new approach using EEG data and deep learning is proposed to increase objectivity and efficiency of schizophrenia diagnosis.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10899326/

A systematic review of EEG based automated ... Electroencephalogram can be used to detect and study various mental health conditions, including epilepsy (Cascella et al., 2009), schizophrenia, bipolar ...

7. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1424-8220/24/20/6508

Diagnosis of Schizophrenia Using EEG Sensor Data This study introduces a highly accurate and efficient method for SZ detection using EEG technology. The proposed techniques offer significant ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923024001059

Investigating cortical excitability and inhibition in patients ... TMS-EEG provides a detailed examination of cortical excitability to assess the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10068296/

The EEG multiverse of schizophrenia - PMC We analyzed the resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) of 121 schizophrenia patients and 75 controls. Using multiple signal processing methods, we extracted ...

10. arxiv.org arxiv.org/html/2311.18484v2

Nigerian Schizophrenia EEG Dataset (NSzED) Towards ... During EEG data-acquisition, preventive measures ensure data quality and participant safety, including maintaining low electrode impedance, monitoring and ...