Testing a Computationally-Informed, Personalized Intervention for Hallucinations

Auditory hallucinations are among the most distressing aspects of psychotic illness, and between 10 and 30% of people with hallucinations do not respond to antipsychotic medications. The authors have used computational modeling of behavior to link brain activity to development of auditory hallucinations in the hope of guiding new treatment development. The proposed studies take the first step toward individualized treatment approaches to hallucinations by attempting causal, pharmacological manipulation of relevant model parameters underlying these phenomena.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-65
• English speaking
• Right handedness
• Diagnosed with schizophrenia schizoaffective, schizophreniform, schizotypal, or brief psychotic disorder
• History of auditory verbal hallucinations occurring at least weekly

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current substance dependence or active use as determined by drug test.
• Any neurological, medical or developmental problem that is known to impair cognition significantly
• Contraindications for MR scanning including metallic implants of any kind, pacemakers and history of accidents with metal, claustrophobia
• History of seizures
• History of violence
• History of suicide
• Pregnancy (determined by urine pregnancy test)
• Concurrent participation in any other intervention study
• History of urinary retention
• History of delirium
• Current use of any cholinergic or anticholinergic medication
• History of asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
• Evidence of cardiovascular disease on EKG
• Individuals who have been on dopamine-2 antagonists for less than 6 months (to limit risk of EPS)