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 study aims to identify novel markers of psychosis using electroencephalography (EEG).

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.

Is EEG generally safe for humans?

EEG (electroencephalography) is generally considered safe for humans, as it is a non-invasive method used to record brain activity. However, some studies have noted EEG abnormalities in patients taking certain medications like clozapine, which can also lead to seizures in a small percentage of cases. These findings are related to the medication rather than the EEG procedure itself. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does EEG treatment for schizophrenia differ from other treatments?

EEG (electroencephalography) is unique for schizophrenia as it is a non-invasive and inexpensive method that helps to understand brain activity patterns in patients, unlike traditional drug treatments that focus on altering brain chemistry. EEG can identify specific brain wave abnormalities, which may help tailor more personalized treatment approaches. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What data supports the effectiveness of EEG treatment for schizophrenia?

Research shows that EEG can detect brain changes in schizophrenia, and these changes are stable over time, suggesting they are not just side effects of treatment. Additionally, EEG abnormalities have been linked to better functioning in some areas for patients consistently diagnosed with schizophrenia. ^{7 10 11 12 13}

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. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electroencephalographic findings in relation to diagnostic constructs in psychiatry. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resting EEG in first-episode and chronic schizophrenia. [2019]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Individual analysis of EEG band power and clinical drug response in schizophrenia. [2007]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pretreatment EEG predicts short-term response to haloperidol treatment. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Computerized EEG in schizophrenia. [2019]

6. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Validation of a suite of ERP and QEEG biomarkers in a pre-competitive, industry-led study in subjects with schizophrenia and healthy volunteers. [2023]

7. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clozapine-induced seizures, electroencephalography abnormalities, and clinical responses in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. [2021]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EEG alterations and seizures during treatment with clozapine. A retrospective study of 283 patients. [2015]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electroencephalographic sleep in clinically stable schizophrenic patients: two-weeks versus six-weeks neuroleptic-free. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clozapine-induced seizures and EEG abnormalities in ambulatory psychiatric patients. [2017]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of recent literature employing electroencephalographic techniques to study the pathophysiology, phenomenology, and treatment response of schizophrenia. [2021]

12. Egypt pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clozapine augments delta, theta, and right frontal EEG alpha power in schizophrenic patients. [2021]

13. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) functional imaging in acute, neuroleptic-naive, first-episode, productive schizophrenia. [2022]