Trial Outcomes & Findings for Non-Invasive Direct Current Stimulation for Cognition in Schizophrenia (NCT NCT02739347)

NCT ID: NCT02739347

Last Updated: 2022-07-07

Results Overview

The investigators will assess cognitive control using the Preparing to Overcome Prepotency (POP) task. The accuracy mean differences between the high and low control conditions will be used as dependent measures. The study is powered at 0.8 to observe a post-pre treatment improvement in cognitive control with a substantial effect size (d=0.56) compared to sham stimulation with effects relatively stable measured 2 months after baseline. The hypothesized effect size will be d=0.60.

Recruitment status

TERMINATED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

17 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Week 1

Results posted on

2022-07-07

Participant Flow

The reason we have fewer subjects randomized than enrolled is that some participants did not meet criteria to be randomized. These subjects were consented and completed many assessments, but were ultimately not randomized due to how they scored on some assessments. For instance, some participants MCCB score was too high to be randomized into the study.

The primary reasons for ineligibility were not taking any anti-psychotic medication, and positive drug screen. There were also many who did not even enter screening due to the assessment that they would highly likely not meet the threshold of requirement cognitive impairment (MATRICS score \< 40).

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Active Stimulation
Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation. Active Trans-cranial direct-current stimulation: Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation.
Sham Stimulation
This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms. Sham Trans-cranial direct current stimulation: This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms.
Overall Study
STARTED
5
7
Overall Study
COMPLETED
2
4
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
3
3

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Active Stimulation
Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation. Active Trans-cranial direct-current stimulation: Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation.
Sham Stimulation
This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms. Sham Trans-cranial direct current stimulation: This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms.
Overall Study
Adverse Event
3
0
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
0
1
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
0
2

Baseline Characteristics

Non-Invasive Direct Current Stimulation for Cognition in Schizophrenia

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Active Stimulation
n=5 Participants
Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation. Active Trans-cranial direct-current stimulation: Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation.
Sham Stimulation
n=7 Participants
This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms. Sham Trans-cranial direct current stimulation: This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms.
Total
n=12 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
12 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Age, Continuous
34 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.2 • n=5 Participants
33 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.5 • n=7 Participants
33 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.3 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
6 Participants
n=7 Participants
9 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
5 participants
n=5 Participants
7 participants
n=7 Participants
12 participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 1

Population: We have reported all available data.

The investigators will assess cognitive control using the Preparing to Overcome Prepotency (POP) task. The accuracy mean differences between the high and low control conditions will be used as dependent measures. The study is powered at 0.8 to observe a post-pre treatment improvement in cognitive control with a substantial effect size (d=0.56) compared to sham stimulation with effects relatively stable measured 2 months after baseline. The hypothesized effect size will be d=0.60.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 1

Population: We have reported all available data.

The investigators will assess working memory using a working memory task. The accuracy mean differences between the high and low control conditions will be used as dependent measures. The study is powered at 0.8 to observe a post-pre treatment improvement in cognitive control with a substantial effect size (d=0.56) compared to sham stimulation with effects relatively stable measured 2 months after baseline. The hypothesized effect size will be d=0.60.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 1

Population: We have reported all available data.

A secondary outcome measure is the severity of negative symptoms as quantified by Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS). This study is powered at 0.8 to observe a post-pre treatment improvement in negative symptoms with a moderate effect size (d=0.56) compared to sham stimulation with effects relatively stable measured 2 months after baseline. The hypothesized effect size will be d=0.60.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Week 1

Population: We have reported all available data.

A secondary outcome measure is the change over time in the severity of auditory hallucinations as assessed by the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS). In a study conducted using a similar montage and current strength (Brunelin et. al 2012), a reduction in auditory hallucinations with a substantial effect size (d=1.58) was observed in 30 patients with schizophrenia. However, as their study recruited only those patients with severe hallucinations while the current study does not have such an inclusion criterion. The investigators expect a more modest effect size of d=0.60.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Active Stimulation

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 1 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Sham Stimulation

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 1 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Active Stimulation
n=5 participants at risk
Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation. Active Trans-cranial direct-current stimulation: Active stimulation group will receive 20 min of 2 mA direct current stimulation.
Sham Stimulation
n=7 participants at risk
This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms. Sham Trans-cranial direct current stimulation: This will be an active sham involving brief (15 msec) low current (0.11 mA) pulses every 550 ms.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Minor Burn
20.0%
1/5 • Number of events 1 • Two months.
0.00%
0/7 • Two months.
Psychiatric disorders
Cognitive Decline
0.00%
0/5 • Two months.
14.3%
1/7 • Number of events 1 • Two months.

Additional Information

Raymond Cho

Baylor College of Medicine

Phone: 7137987781

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place

Restriction type: LTE60