EEG in the Early Phase of Psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Electroencephalography in the Early Phase of Psychosis
IRAS ID
193197
Contact name
Keith Brennan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research into psychotic disorders is increasingly focussed on the early stages of illness.
There is clear evidence that a range of EEG abnormalities are present in patients with chronic schizophrenia but less is known about whether EEG changes can be detected before the onset of psychosis. It is also unclear whether there are longitudinal changes in the subgroup of high risk subjects who go on to develop psychosis.
The present study will address these issues by examining EEG data in people at Ultra High Risk of psychosis and making comparisons with patients in their first episode of psychosis and healthy volunteers. The paradigms will include tasks that have previously been associated with EEG abnormalities in patients with psychosis. EEG data from Ultra High Risk subjects at clinical presentation will be compared with data from the other two groups. Participants will then be re-assessed using the same methods at three time-points over the next 24 months. This will allow us to determine longitudinal changes in EEG data which are related to the development of psychosis.
A verbal memory test will also be performed at each time point. Memory impairment is an core feature of schizophrenia and may relate to underlying EEG abnormalities.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1829
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion