The effect of biofeedback therapy in psychiatric rehabilitation

ISRCTN ISRCTN78612833
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN78612833
Secondary identifying numbers Grant number 550
Submission date
06/04/2021
Registration date
18/05/2021
Last edited
14/06/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Schizophrenia is characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour. The aim of this study is to find out whether neurofeedback can be a new form of therapeutic/rehabilitation intervention for people with schizophrenia. The study involves comparing an existing form of standard rehabilitation with a new galvanic skin response neurofeedback (GSR-NF) therapy.

Who can participate?
Male patients aged 18 to 65 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, in remission for 1.5 years or more

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated to three groups. Group 1 receive standard rehabilitation interventions. Group 2 receive a standard rehabilitation program according to an established schedule. Group 3 undergo GSR-NF training. The rehabilitation measures are carried out over a period of 3 months. The initial and final measurements are compared in each group.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Biofeedback therapy may be an alternative solution to standard rehabilitation activities carried out in patients with mental illness.

Where is the study run from?
Medical University of Lublin (Poland)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2016 to January 2021

Who is funding the study?
Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland)

Who is the main contact
Renata Markiewicz
renata.markiewicz@umlub.pl

Contact information

Dr Renata Markiewicz
Scientific

Psychiatric Nursing Department
Faculty of Health Sciences
Medical University of Lublin
Lublin
20-081
Poland

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-4626-8128
Phone +48 (0)603768528
Email renata.markiewicz@umlub.pl

Study information

Study designInterventional single-center randomized study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, the study information sheets and consent of all participants in the experiment are available from the author of the research project (Renata Markiewicz)
Scientific titleImproving clinical, cognitive, and psychosocial dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia: a neurofeedback study
Study acronymRehBF-Schizophrenia
Study hypothesisAccording to the research hypothesis, neurofeedback training improves the functioning of people with schizophrenia to a greater extent than standard rehabilitation alone, which can be demonstrated by:
1. Reduction of the severity of psychopathological symptoms (scale: PANSS)
2. Improvement in cognitive and psychosocial performance (scales: BCIS, CTT-1, CTT-2, d2, AIS and GSES)
which all correspond to biochemical and electrophysiological effects:
3. Biochemical markers e.g. BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) serum level
4. Event-related potentials (ERP) and quantitative electroencephalography – neurofeedback-dependent (QEEG-NF)
Ethics approval(s)Approved 25/02/2016, Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Lublin (Al. Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin; room 132, Poland; +48 (0)81448 5213; komisja.bioetyczna@umlub.pl), ref: KE-0254/35/2016
ConditionSchizophrenia
InterventionPatients are randomly assigned to three groups:
Group 1 receive standard rehabilitation interventions (n = 18)
Group 2 receive a standard rehabilitation program according to an established schedule (n = 26)
Group 3 undergo galvanic skin response neurofeedback (GSR-NF) training (n = 19)

The rehabilitation measures are carried out over a period of 3 months. The initial and final measurements are compared in each group based on the adopted research tools (according to the research protocol).
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureMeasured at the beginning of the study and after 3 months:
1. Psychopathological symptoms measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
2. Cognitive and psychosocial performance measured using the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS), Color Trails Test (CTT)-1, CTT-2, d2, Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS) and General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES)
3. Biochemical markers e.g. serum level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
4. Event-related potentials (ERP) and quantitative electroencephalography – neurofeedback-dependent (QEEG-NF)
Secondary outcome measuresThere are no secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date25/02/2016
Overall study end date11/01/2021

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit65 Years
SexMale
Target number of participants63
Total final enrolment62
Participant inclusion criteria1. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (DSM-5), residual, in partial remission for ≥1.5 years
2. Patient’s consent
3. Aged 18-65 years
4. Right-handedness
Participant exclusion criteria1. Current neurological diseases
2. Mental disability
3. Alcohol or psychoactive substances addiction
Recruitment start date25/09/2016
Recruitment end date23/12/2019

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Poland

Study participating centre

Medical University of Lublin
Al. Racławickie 1
Lublin
20-059
Poland

Sponsor information

Medical University of Lublin
University/education

Al. Racławickie 1
Lublin
20-059
Poland

Phone +48 (0)81448 5030
Email aneta.sadowska@umlub.pl
Website http://www.umlub.pl/en/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/016f61126

Funders

Funder type

Government

Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyższego, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Republic of Poland, MNiSW
Location
Poland

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date11/01/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal
IPD sharing planThe database and documentation of the study are held by the principal investigator Renata Markiewicz (under copyright), and can be made available upon request from renata.markiewicz@umlub.pl.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol file 01/06/2021 No No
Results article 12/08/2021 12/04/2022 Yes No
Results article 11/06/2022 14/06/2023 Yes No
Results article 06/09/2022 14/06/2023 Yes No

Additional files

ISRCTN78612833_PROTOCOL.pdf
Uploaded 01/06/2021

Editorial Notes

14/06/2023: Publication references added.
12/04/2022: Publication reference added.
01/06/2021: Uploaded protocol file (not peer reviewed).
12/04/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Lublin.