Table 1.
Study characteristics with key patient data
| Patient characteristics | Trial design | Duration | Intervention used | Comparator used | Blinding | Main outcome Measure(s) | Analysis | Main Result(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alford (1986)19 | 22-year-old man with chronic paranoid schizophrenia (DSM III) receiving fluphenazine decanoate | ABAB | Not reported | Cognitive intervention (Social reinforcement-assisted) | Placebo (general conversation) | Patient and treating physician not Blinded. Blinded secondary outcome assessors | Self-reports of frequency and strength of delusional belief, and frequency of Thorazine (when required) use | Qualitative and graphical | Decreasing frequency and strength of belief in delusion ideation during treatment phases. Decreased administration of Thorazine (when required) |
| Blanco-Lopez et al (2016)24 | 18-year-old woman with schizophrenia receiving clozapine | BAB | 8 weeks | Transcranial magnetic stimulation of left temporoparietal cortex | Treatment as usual | None reported | Unclear but appeared to be self-report of duration of time without auditory hallucinations and depressive symptoms. Also clinical global impression | Qualitative | Decreasing frequency of auditory hallucinations. Improved mood. Improved clinical impression |
| Done et al (1986)23 | 42-year-old man with chronic schizophrenia receiving flupentixol decanoate 150 mg weekly. Target symptom auditory hallucinations | ABAC | 5 months | Right ear plug | No ear plug (B) and left ear plug only (C) | None reported | Self-report of frequency, volume and disturbing content of hallucinations | Non-parametric statistics | Right ear plug reduced the frequency and volume of hallucinations compared with left ear plug or no plug |
| Gorczynski et al (2014)22 | 4 patients, all with chronic schizophrenia: a 29-year-old man receiving clozapine; a 28-year-old man receiving loxapine; a 25-year-old woman receiving clozapine, and ‘weight reduction medication’; a 36-year-old woman receiving clozapine | ABA | 10 weeks | Exercise counselling | Treatment as usual | None reported | Self-report of stage of change, self-efficacy and benefits and barriers. Objective assessment of exercise via accelerometer | Parametric statistics, graphical and tabular | No effect on objective assessment of exercise. Self-report indicated progress through stages of change and minor increases in self-efficacy |
| Kay & Opler (1985)21 | 55-year-old woman with chronic paranoid schizophrenia (DSM III) receiving haloperidol 15 mg | Reversal design (ABA) | 27 weeks | L-dopa (Sinemet) (combined with haloperidol) | Placebo (combined with haloperidol) | Double-blind | Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Psychopathology Rating Schedule, Span of Attention Test | Non-parametric statistics | Significant improvement in negative symptoms. No change in positive symptoms |
| MacEwan et al (2001)20 | 36-year-old man with schizophrenia-paranoid type (in partial remission) receiving risperidone 2 mg | ABAB | 30 weeks | Donepezil (10 mg daily) | Treatment as usual | None | Battery of 9 standardised cognitive tests. Self-report of functioning | Simple tabulation and qualitative summary | Increased verbal fluency and subjective concentration |