SCORES for Schizophrenia Risk

(SCORES Trial)

Overseen By Barbara A Cornblatt, Ph.D.

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Northwell Health

Disqualifiers: Schizophrenia, CNS disorder, IQ<70, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 10 weeks

54 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program called SCORES (Specific Cognitive Remediation with Surround), designed to improve processing speed—a brain function crucial for social interaction. The 10-week, remote intervention combines exercises and group support to assist adolescents at risk for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. The trial compares two types of cognitive training: one focused on speed and another not focused on speed. Individuals with mild symptoms indicating a risk for psychosis and difficulties with certain thinking tasks might be suitable for this trial. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity to enhance understanding of cognitive interventions for at-risk adolescents.

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 doctor.

What prior data suggests that the SCORES intervention is safe for adolescents at risk for schizophrenia?

Research has shown that treatments like those used in the SCORES program are generally safe and well-tolerated. A large study with 4,594 participants found that these treatments improved thinking skills without major safety issues.

Additionally, research on individuals at high risk for psychosis has demonstrated that these treatments can positively affect thinking and daily functioning. Although side effects are not commonly reported, participants should discuss any concerns with the research team. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about SCORES for schizophrenia risk because it uses cognitive training to target cognition and social function, which are areas not directly addressed by typical antipsychotic medications. Unlike standard treatments, which mainly focus on managing symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, this approach aims to improve underlying cognitive processes. The trial compares speeded and non-speeded cognitive training techniques, potentially offering new insights into how enhancing cognitive skills can impact overall functioning in individuals at risk for schizophrenia.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for schizophrenia risk?

Research has shown that programs like SCORES can help people with schizophrenia improve their thinking skills. A review of several studies found that this type of training generally enhances clarity of thought. In this trial, participants will be assigned to one of two treatment arms: Speeded Cognitive Training or Non-Speeded Cognitive Training. Other research found specific improvements, such as better memory for words, with noticeable benefits. This training focuses on enhancing mental abilities, such as processing information quickly, which is important for interacting with others. By boosting these skills, the SCORES program aims to help those at risk for schizophrenia manage their symptoms more effectively. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ricardo E Carrion, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Northwell Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adolescents showing early signs of psychosis, specifically those who have certain symptoms but haven't been diagnosed with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. Participants should be English speakers without significant neurological issues, intellectual disability (IQ<70), major head injury, or severe sensory impairments.

Inclusion Criteria

Meet Clinical High Risk (CHR) criteria on the Structured Interview for Psychosis Risk Syndromes, defined by the presence of at least one attenuated positive symptom at a moderate to severe level

A score representing 0.5 SD below the mean on Animal Naming, Trails A or BACS: Symbol Coding from the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB)

Exclusion Criteria

Significant head injury

I have major issues with my sight or hearing.

Significant substance abuse

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo 40 hours of Cognitive Remediation over 10 weeks, with a mid-point assessment at 5 weeks to evaluate the impact on processing speed and social function.

10 weeks

Remote sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in processing speed and social functioning after the treatment phase.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SCORES

Trial Overview The SCORES program aims to improve processing speed and social functioning over 10 weeks through cognitive exercises and group support. It's designed for young people at risk of developing schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders and is delivered remotely.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Speeded Cognitive Training Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this condition will complete 40 hours of Cognitive Remediation with a mid-point assessment (20 hours/5 weeks) to determine the impact of speeded cognitive training tasks on cognition and social function.

Group II: Non-Speeded Cognitive Training Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this condition will complete 40 hours of Cognitive Remediation with a mid-point assessment (20 hours/5 weeks) to determine the impact of non-speeded cognitive training tasks on cognition and social function.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northwell Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

481

Recruited

470,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Cognitive remediation treatment over 12 weeks significantly improved processing speed, executive functions, and real-world work skills in individuals with early-course schizophrenia (within 5 years of first episode) compared to those with long-term illness (more than 15 years).

The study suggests that earlier intervention in schizophrenia leads to more meaningful improvements in cognitive function and everyday functioning, highlighting the importance of cognitive remediation as a tool for early treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation in schizophrenia: efficacy and effectiveness in patients with early versus long-term course of illness. Bowie, CR., Grossman, M., Gupta, M., et al.[2022]

Cognitive remediation (CR) significantly reduces negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia, with a moderate effect size of -0.30 immediately post-therapy and -0.36 at follow-up, based on a meta-analysis of 45 studies involving 2511 participants.

CR was found to be more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) and TAU plus active control, indicating that CR can be a valuable intervention for addressing negative symptoms, which are often overlooked in schizophrenia treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A network meta-analysis. Cella, M., Preti, A., Edwards, C., et al.[2022]

Cognitive remediation (CR) shows promise in improving cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, especially when combined with other therapies, as supported by six meta-analyses.

CR interventions can lead to structural and functional changes in important brain areas, and factors like attention, motivation, and clinician expertise are crucial for a positive treatment response.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation for schizophrenia: current status, biological correlates and predictors of response. Kurtz, MM.[2018]

A study involving 40 individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated that cognitive remediation using the NEAR approach led to significant improvements in cognitive functions such as verbal and visual memory, attention, and executive functioning, with effects lasting up to 4 months after treatment.

Improvements in cognitive abilities were also associated with better social and occupational outcomes, indicating that cognitive remediation can have a broader impact on the quality of life for individuals with schizophrenia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of cognitive remediation in schizophrenia. Hodge, MA., Siciliano, D., Withey, P., et al.[2021]

Cognitive remediation strategies for schizophrenia have shown improvements in working memory, emotion perception, and executive function, indicating that targeted cognitive exercises can effectively engage underfunctioning brain systems.

Cognitive adaptation interventions have been linked to better symptoms, psychosocial status, and reduced relapse rates, suggesting that modifying the environment can help patients manage their cognitive deficits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Neurocognitive rehabilitation for schizophrenia. Kurtz, MM.[2019]

Cognitive remediation (CR) in early schizophrenia showed significant improvements in functioning and symptoms, with effect sizes of 0.18 and 0.19 respectively, based on a systematic review of 11 trials involving 615 participants.

While CR did not significantly improve overall global cognition, it did show a positive effect on verbal learning and memory, suggesting that targeted cognitive interventions may be beneficial, especially when combined with psychiatric rehabilitation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive remediation in early schizophrenia. Revell, ER., Neill, JC., Harte, M., et al.[2022]

Cognitive remediation (CR) for schizophrenia has been shown to produce small-to-moderate improvements in cognitive skills and functioning, based on a meta-analysis of 73 randomized controlled trials involving 4594 participants.

CR programs that incorporate 'bridging' discussions to apply cognitive skills in real life and strategy-coaching for episodic memory yield larger improvements, suggesting that these elements enhance the effectiveness of CR interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Meta-analysis of Cognitive Remediation for Schizophrenia: Efficacy and the Role of Participant and Treatment Factors. Lejeune, JA., Northrop, A., Kurtz, MM.[2022]

Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia and significantly impact daily functioning, yet current treatments do not effectively address these issues.

Cognitive remediation programs, such as cognitive enhancement therapy, show promise in improving cognitive and social functions in schizophrenia by focusing on principles like intensity, duration, and individualized training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive remediation in schizophrenia. Kaneko, Y., Keshavan, M.[2022]

In a study of 88 early course schizophrenia outpatients, it was found that premorbid sociality significantly influenced how well patients responded to Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) compared to Enriched Supportive Therapy (EST) over 18 months.

Patients with higher premorbid sociality showed greater improvements in social adjustment with CET, while those with lower premorbid sociality benefited more from EST, suggesting that understanding a patient's social history can help tailor effective treatment plans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Premorbid Sociality Moderates Social Adjustment Change during Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for Adults with Early Schizophrenia. Wojtalik, JA., Flores, AT., Keshavan, MS., et al.[2023]

A new computer-based cognitive remediation intervention for schizophrenia has been developed, focusing on engaging multiple cognitive skills and providing personalized support from therapists, which is currently being tested in a randomized trial with patients completing 24 sessions.

Initial results are promising, showing that patients are receptive to the tasks and are willing to participate regularly, although it is too early to determine the overall effectiveness in improving cognitive function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development of a computer-assisted cognitive remediation program for patients with schizophrenia. Bellack, AS., Dickinson, D., Morris, SE., et al.[2018]

In a study of 32 patients with schizophrenia undergoing a computer-based cognitive training program, baseline cognitive impairment did not significantly predict individual success in cognitive remediation, suggesting that other factors may play a more critical role.

The study found that better baseline cognitive abilities were linked to a higher percentage of tasks with ceiling effects, indicating that not adjusting task difficulty to match patients' cognitive levels could hinder the effectiveness of cognitive remediation more than the level of cognitive impairment itself.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predictors of performance improvements within a cognitive remediation program for schizophrenia. Scheu, F., Aghotor, J., Pfueller, U., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8870375/

Advances in Cognitive Remediation Training ... For improvement in specific cognitive domains, five studies showed improvements in verbal learning, with effect sizes ranging from 0.88 to 1.55 [7,15,32]. Two ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04123223

Comparing Cognitive Remediation Approaches for ... The present project seeks to identify cognitive training mechanisms that are most effective at improving cognitive function in schizophrenia by comparing ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165178123004456

Moderators of functional improvement after integrative ... Cognitive remediation is an effective intervention for improving functional outcome in schizophrenia. However, the factors that moderate this improvement ...

4. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/jops/fulltext/2025/01000/effectiveness_of_cognitive_remediation.13.aspx

Effectiveness of Cognitive Remediation Interventions for... ... The meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness of CR interventions on composite cognition scores revealed a positive effect, favoring the intervention group ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2778914

Effectiveness, Core Elements, and Moderators of ... Findings In this systematic review and meta-analysis, cognitive remediation was confirmed as effective on both cognitive and functional outcomes ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05131035

Targeting Processing Speed Deficits to Improve Social ... This 10 week intervention, Specific Cognitive Remediation with Surround (or SCORES), is designed to target processing speed, a cognitive domain related ...

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38951112/

Improving processing speed in adolescents at clinical high ... The SCORES study is a completely virtual intervention that targets a core cognitive mechanism, processing speed, which is a rate-limiting ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8266668/

A Meta-analysis of Cognitive Remediation for Schizophrenia The meta-analysis (4594 participants) revealed that CR produced significant small-to-moderate size improvements in all domains of cognition studied.

9. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41537-017-0021-9

The effect of cognitive remediation in individuals at ultra ... Four of the six studies evaluated the effect of cognitive remediation on functional outcomes. Two of the studies found a beneficial effect of ...