CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT00619567Updated Dec 10, 2013

Cognitive Stimulation Program in AIDS

A Phase 1 interventional study of Smartbrain in HIV Infections, sponsored by University of Pittsburgh. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 40 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-12-10.

Sponsored by University of Pittsburgh · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
40 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

There has been little success in treating the cognitive (thinking) problems associated with HIV/AIDS using medications. The purpose of this study is to determine whether an internet-based cognitive "stimulation" program might help HIV-infected individuals think more clearly. If this is true, then it means that people with mild forms of cognitive impairment may be able to help themselves to get better.

Read the detailed description

The neurocognitive manifestations of HIV/AIDS have long been recognized as important for the management, survival, and quality of life of affected patients and their families. Following the advent of Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) the incidence of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) has fallen, but the prevalence of the milder forms of HIV-related cognitive disorders has risen. This is important because alterations in cognitive function can have significant impact on work and social activities, mood, and perceived quality of life. To date, pharmacological management of HIV-associated cognitive disorders - apart from HAART - have met with limited success (e.g., Peptide T, Ritalin). Therefore, it appears reasonable to ask whether the use of non-pharmacological tools might help alleviate or ameliorate the symptoms of the milder forms of cognitive impairment, and thus improve mood and activities of daily living. The purpose of this application is to request funds to allow us to complete a feasibility/pilot study of the merits of using an internet-based cognitive stimulation program (CSP) to improve the cognitive functions and quality of life of individuals with HIV/AIDS, and, secondarily, to detect such changes using a computerized assessment tool designed for use in a health care practitioner's office (Computer-Based Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment (CAMCI)).

02

Conditions studied

  • HIV Infections

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Rehabilitation
  • Cognitive Stimulation
  • Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • AIDS
03

In context

HIV Infections

4,258 studies on the registry are indexed under HIV Infections; 240 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 60 is below the median of 83 across 3,251 interventional studies indexed under HIV Infections.

Browse HIV Infections studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Pittsburgh is the lead sponsor of 1,385 studies on the registry; 167 are open to participants now.

Of its 8 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 4 (50%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
40 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Access to the Internet (either from home or public access)
  • Native language is English
  • HIV infected

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Crieria:

  • Active drug/alcohol abuse or dependence
  • Current major depression
  • History of neurological disease, Central Nervous System Opportunistic Infections, tumors, or stroke
  • History of learning disability or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (by subject report).
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
60 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Cognitive Stimulation

    Subjects will be given Internet access to the Smartbrain cognitive stimulation program. They will complete exercises for \~30 minutes, at least three times per week, for a period of 24 weeks.

    Behavioral: Smartbrain

  • No intervention
    Control

    These individuals will receive "usual care" during the 24 week follow-up period.

Interventions

  • BehavioralSmartbrain

    The initial session will be set for 10 minutes, with weekly increases (of 10 minutes) to a maximum of 30 minutes per day, 7 days a week. Each subject will be trained using the same modules of the Smartbrain protocol, with an emphasis on speed of information processing.

    Also known as: Cognitive stimulation

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Global Impairment Rating from battery of neuropsychological tests.

    Time frame: 24 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in perceived quality of life using MOS/HIV

    Time frame: 24 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 10, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00619567
Lead sponsor
University of Pittsburgh
Collaborators
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 21, 2008
Start date
Sep 2007
Primary completion
Jan 2010
Completion
Jan 2010
Last update
Dec 10, 2013

Study contacts

James T. Becker, Ph.D.
principal investigator · University of Pittsburgh

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2013. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion