VRCog
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Virtual-Reality Cognitive Training & Assessment in Schizophrenia
IRAS ID
216628
Contact name
Pat Baxter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population. Whilst available pharmacological treatments help reduce positive symptoms, such as hallucinations, patients often continue to show impairments in one or more cognitive domains including attention, learning, problem solving, and memory.
Cognitive functions are mainly assessed by pen-and-paper and/or computerised tests. Whilst these assessments tap into specific cognitive processes, they do not provide reliable predictions of everyday functioning. This makes it challenging to fully evaluate the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for cognitive problems. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop novel assessments that can provide a more accurate picture of functional capacity.
In this study, we aim to establish the construct validity of a newly developed cognitive assessment in individuals with schizophrenia aged 18 to 60. The assessment will involve shopping in a virtual-reality (VR) environment. Forty patients will be recruited from outpatient services to complete the VR task alongside standard cognitive and functional capacity tests, and electroencephalography (EEG) recording.
Participants will also receive 12 hours of app-based cognitive training using a smartphone application. They will either play with an immersive or control spatial memory game. Following cognitive training, participants will repeat all assessments including the VR task, cognitive and functional capacity tests, and EEG. This will allow us to explore: 1) the feasibility of administering a VR cognitive assessment to individuals with schizophrenia, 2) the validity and sensitivity of the VR task, 3) and the effects of remote spatial memory training on cognition and functional capacity.
Study procedures will be carried out at two locations: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), and NIHR King's Wellcome Clinical Research Facility. Participants will be recruited from the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. The study will run for 21 months.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0792
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion