Cognitive Training for Schizophrenia

This trial explores a new cognitive training program designed to help individuals with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder better manage their emotions. The program, called Emotional Working Memory Training, aims to enhance brain function in areas related to emotion control. Participants will receive either the actual training or a placebo (a treatment with no active effect) for comparison. It is suitable for English-speaking adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who have not recently changed their antipsychotic medication. As an unphased trial, this study provides participants the opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new methods for managing emotional challenges.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but it requires that you have not changed your antipsychotic medication in the last month or two, depending on the type.

Research shows that emotional working memory training is generally easy for people to handle. One study found that this mental exercise benefits individuals with schizophrenia, particularly by enhancing attention and verbal learning skills, which can be challenging for them.

Another study found that this training helped reduce stress-related memory problems, suggesting it might alleviate stress while boosting memory. Importantly, these studies reported no major negative effects, indicating a good safety profile.

Researchers are excited about emotional working memory training for schizophrenia because it offers a novel approach that focuses on cognitive rehabilitation. Unlike traditional treatments, which often rely on medications like antipsychotics to manage symptoms, this method aims to enhance cognitive functions by training the brain's emotional working memory. This innovative technique has the potential to improve patients' cognitive abilities, leading to better overall functioning and quality of life. By targeting the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia rather than just the symptoms, this approach could complement existing treatments and provide a more comprehensive management strategy.

This trial will compare emotional working memory training with placebo working memory training for individuals with schizophrenia. Research has shown that emotional working memory training can benefit people with schizophrenia. Studies have found that this training can improve emotional regulation and cognitive processes. Approximately 35% of studies on cognitive training reported improvements in working memory. This training might help align the brain activity of people with schizophrenia more closely with typical brain activity. Some research also suggests it can reduce negative symptoms and enhance overall cognitive skills.¹⁶⁷⁸⁹