e-CAeSAR Clinical Trial Investigates Brain Plasticity, Inc.’s New Treatment For Schizophrenia And Schizoaffective Disorder

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e-CAeSAR (Evaluation of a Cognitively Adaptive e-treatment in Schizophrenia-diagnosed Adults: A Remediation-based Approach) is funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health.

I came across an interesting article yesterday on the website Schizophrenic.com. The article describes a new treatment for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients that suffer specifically from cognitive impairment. Schizophrenia causes neural changes in the brain that result in the patient’s reduced ability to function in his or her environment (i.e. family relationships, workplace, and school). A new software-based computer program being developed by San Francisco-based Brain Plasticity, Inc. is designed to help improve memory, attention and other cognitive functions in people with schizophrenia. The clinical trial, e-CAeSAR (Evaluation of a Cognitively Adaptive e-treatment in Schizophrenia-diagnosed Adults: A Remediation-based Approach) is funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, and will be conducted in collaboration with investigators from the Schizophrenia Trials Network.

Using computers with software-based programs is a unique approach for people suffering from schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Typically, patients are prescribed anti-psychotic medication along with psychotherapy as a long-term treatment plan. Often, this does nothing more than help them manage their symptoms. Nothing is done to help them combat the effects that schizophrenia has on their brain, and relearn how to function in society. I am looking forward to the results of Brain Plasticity, Inc.’s clinical trials.

For me personally, I find exercise and gardening to be extremely therapeutic. Doing a great cardio workout at the gym gives me the opportunity to expend energy and relieve stress. Gardening, an activity that many people consider a peaceful and calming activity, I see as quite the opposite. I actually enjoy taking out my anger on the weeds and plants that I need to get rid of. Yanking plants out of the ground by the roots and tossing them aside is an excellent way to channel my anger. I am not always angry, but sometimes I think about the years of my life that I’ve lost to this illness, and the things I might have done if I didn’t have schizoaffective disorder, and I get angry. Other times I’m angry because I get paranoid, and believe that certain people are out to get me. This doesn’t happen much anymore, but it did in the past. Individuals can discover for themselves what helps them to manage their symptoms, think good thoughts, heal from the depression, mania, or psychosis, and move forward with their lives in a positive direction.