Prophylactic reduction and remediation of schizophrenic impairments through interactive behavioral training

• US 6,231,344 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Scientific Learning Corp. (Carnegie Learning, Inc.), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Learning Corp. (Carnegie Learning, Inc.), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Merzenich, Michael M., Blake, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rovnak, John Edmund
• Application Number:
  US09/134,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/237, 434/238
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training

Abstract

Computer-implemented perceptual and cognitive training techniques for remediating schizophrenia, either prophylactically prior to the onset of clinically observable schizophrenic behaviors or after the development of schizophrenia symptoms in a person. The computer-implemented behavioral exercises are designed to be sufficiently intensive, both in the number of repetitions and in the attentional focus related to task difficulty, such that permanent changes in neurotransmitter expression are achieved.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for remediating schizophrenia in a person, comprising:

(a) assessing, using a computer-implemented interactive behavioral assessment regime, a schizophrenia risk factor for said person;

(b) if said schizophrenia risk factor is greater than a predefined benchmark, periodically reassessing said schizophrenia risk factor by

waiting for at least a predefined period of time, and

performing step (a) after said predefined period of time expires;

(c) if said schizophrenia risk factor is below said predefined benchmark, treating said person by

administering computer-implemented interactive behavioral training to said person, said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training being sufficiently intensive during each training day to drive a neurochemical change in said person'"'"'s brain to remediate said schizophrenia over time.

2. The computer-implemented technique of claim 1 wherein said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training is configured to permit said human to be correct in at least 50% of the training administered.

3. The computer-implemented technique of claim 1 wherein said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training involves at least two of a set of tasks that includes perceptual, cognitive, executive, and social tasks, wherein said person is trained for at least 100 trials in each of said at least two tasks per training day.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including providing, using said computer-implemented approach, feedback to said person.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 further including rewarding, using said computer-implemented approach, said person.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein administering said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training includes administering a set of computer-implemented exercises.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein said set of computer-implemented exercises includes one of an auditory test, a visual test, a behavioral test and a cross-stimulus test.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further including altering said set of computer-implemented exercises.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein altering said set of computer-implemented exercises is directed such that said person can correctly respond to approximately 80% of said set of computer-implemented exercises.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein administering said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training includes a number of exercises effective to reduce the effects of schizophrenia within said person.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 wherein said number of exercises includes one hundred tests in a single day.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training is directed to improve a skill for said person.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein said skill is one of a perceptual skill, a cognitive skill, a social skill and an executive function skill.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 wherein said skill is not identified as deficient in said person.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training is directed to promote inter-related skills.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein administering said training regime is performed a number of times effective to reduce the effects of schizophrenia within said person.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein administering said training regime is performed on a daily basis.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein administering said training regime is performed prophylactically.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training is directed to elicit a high level of engagement from said person.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including providing, using said computer-implemented approach, said schizophrenia risk factor to a health care professional.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said training regime is employed as an adjunct to a pharmaceutical approach.

22. A computer readable medium for remediating schizophrenia for a person, said computer readable medium comprising:

(a) instructions for assessing, using a computer-implemented interactive behavioral assessment regime, a schizophrenia risk factor for said person;

(b) instructions for, if said schizophrenia risk factor is greater than a predefined benchmark, periodically reassessing said schizophrenia risk factor by

waiting for at least a predefined period of time, and

performing (a) after said predefined period of time expires;

(c) instructions for, if said schizophrenia risk factor is below said predefined benchmark, treating said person by

administering computer-implemented interactive behavioral training to said person, said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training being sufficiently intensive during each training day to drive a neurochemical change in said person'"'"'s brain to remediate said schizophrenia over time.

23. A computer implemented method for delivering computer readable instructions for remotely remediating schizophrenia for a person, said method being implemented using a computer network having a monitoring computer and a remote administering computer, said remote administering computer being geographically remote from said monitoring computer and local to said person, said method comprising:

(a) transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for assessing, using a computer-implemented interactive behavioral assessment regime, a schizophrenia risk factor for said person;

(b) transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for, if said schizophrenia risk factor is greater than a predefined benchmark, periodically reassessing said schizophrenia risk factor by

waiting for at least a predefined period of time, and

performing (a) after said predefined period of time expires;

(c) transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for, if said schizophrenia risk factor is below said predefined benchmark, treating said person by

administering computer-implemented interactive behavioral training to said person, said computer-implemented interactive behavioral training being sufficiently intensive during each training day to drive a neurochemical change in said person'"'"'s brain to remediate said schizophrenia over time.