Effects of Music Beat on Motor Function in Individuals At Risk for Psychotic Onset and Schizophrenia Patients

Effects of Music Beat on Motor Function in Individuals At Risk for Psychotic Onset and Schizophrenia Patients

The purpose of this project is to investigate whether a 3-week training program involving music beat (serving as a type of rhythmic auditory stimulation) reduces the severity of bradykinesia and dyskinesia in at-risk individuals and schizophrenia patients. It is hypothesized that the program is effective in reducing the severity of bradykinesia and dyskinesia in at-risk individuals and schizophrenia patients.

For at-risk participants:

Inclusion criteria:

1. A score of or above 9 in the Chinese version of the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire (CPQ-16), or a score of or above 8.18 in the Chinese version of Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences with 15 items (CAPE-C15), or a score of or above 17 in Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B);
2. an age of 13 years or above;
3. score > 60 in The Chinese version of Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (CH-EBI) to ensure right handedness; and
4. score ≥ 22 in Montreal Cognitive Assessment Hong Kong Version (HK-MoCA) to ensure no serious cognitive deficits so that they can understand instructions.

Exclusion criteria:

1. psychiatric diagnosis by self-report;
2. cardiovascular, neurological, muscular or orthopedic diseases that may affect hand movements;
3. taking psychiatric medications;
4. substance abuse; and
5. being pregnant.

For schizophrenia participants:

Inclusion criteria:

1. a diagnosis of schizophrenia without other psychiatric diseases;
2. the age ≥ 18 years;
3. score > 60 in CH-EBI to ensure right handedness; and
4. score ≥ 22 in HK-MoCA to ensure no serious cognitive deficits so that they can understand instructions.

Exclusion criteria:

1. cardiovascular, neurological, muscular or orthopedic diseases that may affect hand movements;
2. substance abuse; and
3. being pregnant.