RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT06745479

Decision-Making in Schizophrenia: A Combined Neuroimaging and Experience Sampling Study

Promoting Adaptive Decision-Making in Schizophrenia Through Improved Evidence Integration: A Combined Neuroimaging and Experience Sampling Study

Sponsor

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Enrollment

74 participants

Start Date

Jan 7, 2025

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Schizophrenia Control Subjects Schizoaffective Disorder

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if attention and ways of thinking impact decision-making and brain processes related to decision-making in people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder relative to people without either condition. It will also learn how brain functioning during decision-making relates to real-world decisions made during daily life. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does paying attention to specific information impact decision-making and brain processes? * Does thinking in a certain way according to specific 'thinking strategies' improve brain processes related to decision-making? * Does brain functioning during decision-making relate to real-world choices to engage in activities? Researchers will compare brain functioning and decision-making on computer tasks of gambling after participants have been trained to use a positive thinking strategy. They will compare what is different in the brain and behavior when participants use this strategy and when they do not. Participants will also answer brief surveys about activities and feelings for a week in their daily lives. Participants will: * Complete several hours of clinical interviewing, cognitive tests, and surveys of about symptoms, experiences, and personality * Complete computer tasks about gambling decisions during MRI brain scanning and while having their visual attention measured using eye-tracking * Complete brief surveys about their activities and feelings 5 times a day for 1 week using a cell phone. Each survey only take several minutes.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 50 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study uses brain scans (MRI) and a smartphone-based experience sampling method (getting periodic check-ins throughout the day) to study how people with schizophrenia make decisions differently from those without the diagnosis. It aims to better understand the brain processes behind decision-making in schizophrenia. **You may be eligible if...** - You are between 18 and 50 years old - You can communicate in English - You have the capacity to give informed consent - If you have schizophrenia: you have a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder - If you are a healthy volunteer: you are matched to a participant in the schizophrenia group based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are visibly intoxicated at the time of participation - You have a significant neurological disorder (such as Parkinson's disease or history of strokes) - You have a history of traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness - You have untreated or unstable psychiatric or medical conditions - You have intellectual disability - You have contraindications to MRI scans Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALPositive Emotion Upregulation

Participants will identify personal goals or activities that they would like to engage in more and describe these goals/activities in a written format with research staff. Participants will then complete a gambling task during functional MRI scanning. Prior to making some gambling decisions, participants are instructed to mentally imagine achieving a goal or engaging in an enjoyable activity. Prior to the other decisions participants are instructed to respond naturally (i.e., not use the cognitive strategy).