The Fragility of Metaphors (FraMe): Learning, Loosing, and How to Train Them
NCT ID: NCT06375902
Last Updated: 2025-01-24
Study Results
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Basic Information
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ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
64 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2024-07-12
2025-10-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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* Primary Objective: Tracking down the difficulties in metaphor comprehension experienced by individuals with schizophrenia across different metaphor types and exploring the neurological correlates via EEG recording technique
* Secondary Objectives: 1) Evaluate the interactions between performances in metaphor comprehension and individual differences in psychopathology, cognition, ToM and functioning; 2) Test if the altered neurophysiological patterns associated to the fragility of metaphor comprehension in schizophrenia can be restored through a rehabilitative training
The investigators will enroll 32 schizophrenic patients and 32 healthy subjects as control sample.
Participants will undergo an initial visit with a specialist psychiatrist who will verify that their conditions meet the criteria required by the study. Then, subjects will be tested for metaphor comprehension, as well as for the other variables included in the study, and the electrical brain activity will be registered through a 128 channel EEG.
In the check-up visits (i.e., after the training) the following data will be collected:
* Scores relating to cognitive, pragmatic (understanding of metaphors), theory of mind and global functioning performance scores
* EEG recordings related to the process of understanding metaphors
* Scores on scales that evaluate psychopathological severity
Conditions
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Study Design
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CASE_CONTROL
PROSPECTIVE
Study Groups
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Schizophrenia group
We will enroll 32 patients selected according to the presence of Schizophrenia diagnosis (DSM V criteria), which will be tested for metaphor comprehension, as well as for the other variables included in the study, and the electrical brain activity will be registered through a 128 channel EEG.
Patients will be assigned either to a rehabilitative training (PragmaCom), or to a standard rehabilitative program to test if the altered neurophysiological patterns associated to the fragility of metaphor comprehension in schizophrenia can be restored.
PragmaCom
Cognitive behavioral intervention targeting the ability to understand metaphors
Healthy controls group
32 healthy subjects, as control sample, that will be tested for metaphor comprehension, as well as for the other variables included in the study, and the electrical brain activity will be registered through a 128 channel EEG.
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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PragmaCom
Cognitive behavioral intervention targeting the ability to understand metaphors
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Age between 18 and 65 years
* Diagnosis of Schizophrenia according to DSM V criteria
* Ability to provide informed consent
For healthy controls:
* Age between 18 and 65 years
* Ability to provide informed consent
* Absence of psychiatric pathologies
* Ability to speak Italian
Exclusion Criteria
* Intellectual disability
* Neurological disorder
For healthy controls:
* Presence of psychiatric pathologies
* Difficulties in speaking Italian
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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IRCCS San Raffaele
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Marta Bosia
Prof.ssa
Principal Investigators
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Mart Bosia, MD, PhD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University
Locations
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IRCCS San Raffaele
Milan, Italy, Italy
Countries
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References
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Bambini V, Agostoni G, Buonocore M, Tonini E, Bechi M, Ferri I, Sapienza J, Martini F, Cuoco F, Cocchi F, Bischetti L, Cavallaro R, Bosia M. It is time to address language disorders in schizophrenia: A RCT on the efficacy of a novel training targeting the pragmatics of communication (PragmaCom). J Commun Disord. 2022 May-Jun;97:106196. doi: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2022.106196. Epub 2022 Feb 2.
Thoma P, Daum I. Neurocognitive mechanisms of figurative language processing--evidence from clinical dysfunctions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2006;30(8):1182-205. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.09.001. Epub 2006 Oct 31.
Harvey PD, Bowie CR, Friedman JI. Cognition in schizophrenia. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2001 Oct;3(5):423-8. doi: 10.1007/s11920-996-0038-7.
Rossetti I, Brambilla P, Papagno C. Metaphor Comprehension in Schizophrenic Patients. Front Psychol. 2018 May 9;9:670. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00670. eCollection 2018.
Rapp AM, Felsenheimer AK, Langohr K, Klupp M. The Comprehension of Familiar and Novel Metaphoric Meanings in Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study. Front Psychol. 2018 Jan 5;8:2251. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02251. eCollection 2017.
Bambini V, Arcara G, Bosinelli F, Buonocore M, Bechi M, Cavallaro R, Bosia M. A leopard cannot change its spots: A novel pragmatic account of concretism in schizophrenia. Neuropsychologia. 2020 Mar 2;139:107332. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2020.107332. Epub 2020 Jan 7.
Mossaheb N, Aschauer HN, Stoettner S, Schmoeger M, Pils N, Raab M, Willinger U. Comprehension of metaphors in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Compr Psychiatry. 2014 May;55(4):928-37. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.12.021. Epub 2014 Jan 14.
Bambini V, Bertini C, Schaeken W, Stella A, Di Russo F. Disentangling Metaphor from Context: An ERP Study. Front Psychol. 2016 May 3;7:559. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00559. eCollection 2016.
De Grauwe S, Swain A, Holcomb PJ, Ditman T, Kuperberg GR. Electrophysiological insights into the processing of nominal metaphors. Neuropsychologia. 2010 Jun;48(7):1965-84. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.03.017. Epub 2010 Mar 20.
Iakimova G, Passerieux C, Laurent JP, Hardy-Bayle MC. ERPs of metaphoric, literal, and incongruous semantic processing in schizophrenia. Psychophysiology. 2005 Jul;42(4):380-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2005.00303.x.
Adamczyk P, Jani M, Ligeza TS, Plonka O, Bladzinski P, Wyczesany M. On the Role of Bilateral Brain Hypofunction and Abnormal Lateralization of Cortical Information Flow as Neural Underpinnings of Conventional Metaphor Processing Impairment in Schizophrenia: An fMRI and EEG Study. Brain Topogr. 2021 Jul;34(4):537-554. doi: 10.1007/s10548-021-00849-x. Epub 2021 May 10.
Bambini V, Tonini E, Ceccato I, Lecce S, Marocchini E, Cavallini E. How to improve social communication in aging: Pragmatic and cognitive interventions. Brain Lang. 2020 Dec;211:104864. doi: 10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104864. Epub 2020 Nov 1.
Other Identifiers
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2022289RNA
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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