About this trial
This study aims to determine whether Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) can improve attention, memory, and emotional regulation in people with schizophrenia. CRT is a structured program that includes exercises to strengthen cognitive skills such as problem-solving, working memory, and emotion regulation.
The study will recruit 60 participants: 30 individuals with schizophrenia and 30 healthy individuals of similar age and gender. Those with schizophrenia will be randomly assigned to either receive CRT or be placed on a waitlist without therapy. All participants will undergo non-invasive brain activity (EEG) and emotional response (GSR) recordings before and after the therapy.
The study's main question is: Does participating in a 12-week CRT program improve brain-based markers of attention and emotional regulation in people with schizophrenia?
Additional tests, such as memory and emotion recognition tasks and self-report questionnaires, will help assess changes in thinking skills and emotional well-being. The study may help better understand how CRT affects both brain function and quality of life in schizophrenia.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria
Age between 18 and 55 years
Clinically stable (no hospitalization or medication change within 1 month)
Minimum primary school education
Disqualifiers
Current or past substance use disorder (within the past year)
Comorbid neurological illness (e.g., epilepsy, traumatic brain injury)
Current use of benzodiazepines or medications that significantly affect cognitive function
Intellectual disability or MoCA score < 20
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Cognitive Remediation Therapy
Treatment groups
Sponsors and collaborators
Beykoz University
Lead sponsor
Uskudar University
Collaborator
Istanbul Nisantasi University
Collaborator