Generally, CIAS remains even if other symptoms of schizophrenia are being managed with medication and therapy. That’s why our research is focused on the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Before you join a trial, we first confirm your eligibility with some health assessments. Then, if you’re eligible and choose to take part in a schizophrenia trial, you’ll need to attend several appointments so that the trial team can closely monitor your health and condition with health assessments, such as:
These will be to review your medical history, and any drugs you may be taking. Some assessments will measure how well you are performing daily activities, test your memory and give you an opportunity to share your experiences of living with schizophrenia and how you are feeling.
Your height/weight, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate and temperature may be measured.
These exams include a general check of your physical health and reflexes.
Blood and/or urine samples may be collected for routine lab work and to screen for drugs and alcohol.
Other assessments will be involved. A full list of these, and all other requirements around taking part in a trial, would be fully discussed with you before you made a decision about whether to join a trial or not.
Depending on the assessments required at each visit, you may be able to complete some of them at home or over the phone.
And remember, if you join a clinical trial, there are many rules and regulations in place to protect your rights, safety, welfare, and personal data.
Someone who cares for you, for example, a partner, sibling, other family member, close friend, or professional caregiver, may take part in the trial with you. This may be to help you get to and from your appointments and support you throughout the trial. Or, they might be asked to help monitor any changes in your condition and report them to us. Visit our section on caregivers for more information about this role.
To find new treatments for CIAS, we must first test investigational drugs in clinical trials. But in the same way that schizophrenia can impact people in different ways, how medicine works in the body can also vary for different groups of people. That’s why it’s so important that a diverse range of people take part in clinical trials.
You can learn more about the importance of diversity in clinical trials, and Biogen’s efforts to make an impact, here.
If you’re interested in learning more, please use our trial finder to see if there may be a clinical trial that is right for you.