Psychosis and Language study (PaLs) v11

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A comparative study of language abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia, first degree relatives and a non-clinical population.

• IRAS ID

  159269

• Contact name

  Wolfram Hinzen

• Contact email

  wolfram.hinzen@durham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Mental Health Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 10 months, 29 days

• Research summary

  Background:
  Language anomalies in schizophrenia have been noted since Bleuler (1911). However, their significance for understanding cognitive changes in this diagnosis remains unclear. We investigate, against the background of a linguistic theory specifying the cognitive significance of grammar in a non-clinical population, what the linguistic profile in schizophrenia is, and how linguistic anomalies correlate with symptoms.

  Importance and Potential Benefits:?
  Our study integrates contemporary linguistic theory and psychiatry - disciplines that have led largely independent lives until now, despite the significance of language changes in schizophrenia. The specific purpose of the study is a systematic profiling of speech for patients with schizophrenia at a grammatical level. The results of the study may shed light on cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia and inform current and future talk­based therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT ) or cognitive remediation, for the treatment of psychosis.

  Research question:
  What is the linguistic profile of schizophrenia as compared with that of first degree relatives and a non-clinical control group?
  Design:
  Between subjects, 3 groups (schizophrenia, first degree relatives and a non­clinical sample). Mixed methods design using quantitative and qualitative methods.

  Recruitment:
  Early Intervention in Psychosis servcies (EIPs), Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT's), Assertive Outreach Teams (AOT's) and voluntary sector services within Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

  Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

• REC name

  North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/NE/1124

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 Nov 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion