Effect of action-based cognitive remediation on cognition and neural activity in bipolar disorder: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of action-based cognitive remediation on cognition and neural activity in bipolar disorder

T2 - Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

AU - Ott, Caroline Vintergaard

AU - Vinberg, Maj

AU - Bowie, Christopher R

AU - Christensen, Ellen Margrethe

AU - Knudsen, Gitte Moos

AU - Kessing, Lars Vedel

AU - Miskowiak, Kamilla Woznica

PY - 2018/9/12

Y1 - 2018/9/12

N2 - BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is present in bipolar disorder (BD) during the acute and remitted phases and hampers functional recovery. However, there is currently no clinically available treatment with direct and lasting effects on cognitive impairment in BD. We will examine the effect of a novel form of cognitive remediation, action-based cognitive remediation (ABCR), on cognitive impairment in patients with BD, and explore the neural substrates of potential treatment efficacy on cognition.METHODS/DESIGN: The trial has a randomized, controlled, parallel-group design. In total, 58 patients with BD in full or partial remission aged 18-55 years with objective cognitive impairment will be recruited. Participants are randomized to 10 weeks of ABCR or a control group. Assessments encompassing neuropsychological testing and mood ratings, and questionnaires on subjective cognitive complaints, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life are carried out at baseline, after 2 weeks of treatment, after the end of treatment, and at a six-month-follow-up after treatment completion. Functional magnetic resonance imaging scans are performed at baseline and 2 weeks into treatment. The primary outcome is a cognitive composite score spanning verbal memory, attention, and executive function. Two complete data sets for 52 patients will provide a power of 80% to detect a clinically relevant between-group difference on the primary outcome. Behavioral data will be analyzed using mixed models in SPSS while MRI data will be analyzed with the FMRIB Expert Analysis Tool (FEAT). Early treatment-related changes in neural activity from baseline to week 2 will be investigated for the dorsal prefrontal cortex and hippocampus as the regions of interest and with an exploratory whole-brain analysis.DISCUSSION: The results will provide insight into whether ABCR has beneficial effects on cognition and functioning in remitted patients with BD. The results will also provide insight into early changes in neural activity associated with improvement of cognition, which can aid future treatment development.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov , NCT03295305 . Registered on 26 September 2017.

AB - BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is present in bipolar disorder (BD) during the acute and remitted phases and hampers functional recovery. However, there is currently no clinically available treatment with direct and lasting effects on cognitive impairment in BD. We will examine the effect of a novel form of cognitive remediation, action-based cognitive remediation (ABCR), on cognitive impairment in patients with BD, and explore the neural substrates of potential treatment efficacy on cognition.METHODS/DESIGN: The trial has a randomized, controlled, parallel-group design. In total, 58 patients with BD in full or partial remission aged 18-55 years with objective cognitive impairment will be recruited. Participants are randomized to 10 weeks of ABCR or a control group. Assessments encompassing neuropsychological testing and mood ratings, and questionnaires on subjective cognitive complaints, psychosocial functioning, and quality of life are carried out at baseline, after 2 weeks of treatment, after the end of treatment, and at a six-month-follow-up after treatment completion. Functional magnetic resonance imaging scans are performed at baseline and 2 weeks into treatment. The primary outcome is a cognitive composite score spanning verbal memory, attention, and executive function. Two complete data sets for 52 patients will provide a power of 80% to detect a clinically relevant between-group difference on the primary outcome. Behavioral data will be analyzed using mixed models in SPSS while MRI data will be analyzed with the FMRIB Expert Analysis Tool (FEAT). Early treatment-related changes in neural activity from baseline to week 2 will be investigated for the dorsal prefrontal cortex and hippocampus as the regions of interest and with an exploratory whole-brain analysis.DISCUSSION: The results will provide insight into whether ABCR has beneficial effects on cognition and functioning in remitted patients with BD. The results will also provide insight into early changes in neural activity associated with improvement of cognition, which can aid future treatment development.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov , NCT03295305 . Registered on 26 September 2017.

KW - Biomarker

KW - Bipolar disorder

KW - Cognition

KW - Cognitive impairment

KW - Cognitive remediation

KW - Functional magnetic resonance imaging

KW - Pro-cognitive effect

U2 - 10.1186/s13063-018-2860-8

DO - 10.1186/s13063-018-2860-8

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 30208971

SN - 1745-6215

VL - 19

JO - Trials

JF - Trials

IS - 1

M1 - 487

ER -