Purpose

This study examines the impact of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) on symptoms, physiological arousal, stressors, and the ways to deal with them in individuals with schizophrenia. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the role cognitive coping strategies play in mediating the link between stress, physiological arousal and psychotic symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia during recovery from psychosis. Participants will be randomized to receive either standard psychiatric treatment or up to 26-sessions (over 30 weeks) of weekly, individual Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) to target hallucinations and delusions in addition to standard psychiatric treatment. Participants will complete four research assessments at the beginning of the study and after 10, 20, and 30 weeks. These will include interviews, questionnaires, and neuropsychological tests, as well as monitoring sessions of heart rate and experiences. Urine samples will be collected at the initial and at the Week 30 assessments.

Type of Study: Clinical Trial
Setting of Study: outpatient
Clinical Trials.gov number: NCT00791440
Providing Clinical Treatment?: Yes
No Cost Treatment?: Yes
Care is provided in languages: English

Study Activities

Filling Out Forms
Computer Tasks
Psychophysiology measurements
Provides Payment: Compensation for study related procedures

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years - 45 Years
Genders Eligible for Study: Both
This study is not recruiting Healthy Volunteers.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
1) English speaking.
2) Have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder, or schizophreniform disorder.
3) Ratings ≥3 on any hallucinations and delusions items on the Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS).

Location: 
Clinic: Lieber Schizophrenia Research Clinic
Division: 

Study chairs or principal investigators:
David Kimhy Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Co-investigators:
L. Fredrik Jarskog, M.D.,
Marina Shikhman, Ph.D.,