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Recruiting NCT04278339

NCT04278339 Study of Electrophysiological Markers Related to the Cognitive and Affective Processes Behind Empathic Behaviour in Schizophrenic Spectrum Disorder

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT04278339
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice
Condition Schizophrenia
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 70 participants
Start Date 2020-10-10
Primary Completion 2026-10

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 60 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Evoked Related Potentials

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 70 participants in total. It began in 2020-10-10 with a primary completion date of 2026-10.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Disorders of social cognition, and empathy more specifically, are at the heart of schizophrenic pathology in that they are strongly linked to the social handicap of patients. It is therefore necessary to refine our knowledge of the cognitive and affective processes behind this empathic disorder and to identify objective and easily measurable markers (related to brain functioning collected by electroencephalography) of these processes with the subsequent aim of improving their management. It is also relevant to question the trait/status nature of these empathic disorders by studying these markers in individuals presenting more or less marked schizotypic traits and therefore more or less at risk of developing schizophrenia. Studying the possibility that empathy disorders may be part of the factors of developmental vulnerability for schizophrenia and identifying objective markers of this vulnerability could allow, in case of development of the pathology, a more rapid diagnosis and a more effective management.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Common to all: good command of the French language, right-handed. * Specific to patients: diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, clinical state stabilized according to the treating psychiatrist. Exclusion Criteria: * Common to all: having suffered a head injury with loss of consciousness lasting more than 5 minutes, participating in another project at the time of the present study, presenting an addiction to a toxic substance (excluding tobacco), presenting a mental retardation or neurological disorder (verified by a pre-recruitment interview and the administration of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for control subjects and on the basis of the information in the medical file for patients). * Patient-specific: significant change (according to the doctor) in treatment in the previous month, currently hospitalized. * Specific to controls: taking a psychoactive drug, having a mental disorder, being first-degree related to a patient with a disorder other than schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Bruno GIORDANA, PH

✉ giordana.b@chu-nice.fr

📞 4.92.03.87.75

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT04278339 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 60 Years, studying Schizophrenia. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT04278339 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT04278339 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at giordana.b@chu-nice.fr for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT04278339 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Nice, France.

Who is sponsoring the NCT04278339 clinical trial?

NCT04278339 is sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice. The trial plans to enroll 70 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: September 2026  ·  Data Methodology