S308 Abstracts of the 4th Biennial Schizophrenia International Research Conference / Schizophrenia Research 153, Supplement 1 (2014) S1–S384

nia. The arithmetic calculation method proposed by Kumon employs the

errorless learning technique and is widely used for supplemental education.

Two randomized trials of cognitive remediation using the Kumon Method

(arithmetic calculation) with healthy elderly subjects as well as with elderly

subjects with Alzheimer’s disease showed cognitive function improvement

with this intervention. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of

the arithmetic calculation of the Kumon method as cognitive remediation

for working memory, executive function and attention in patients with

schizophrenia.

Methods: 51 subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (DSM-IV), male

and female, literate, aged between 18-55 years, were included in the trial

and randomized to arithmetic calculation training by the Kumon method

(experimental group) or recreational activities (placebo-control group). The

subjects received 48 intervention sessions over the course of 6 months.

The subjects were evaluated through a neuropsychological battery; the

clinical outcome was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome

Scale (PANSS), and functioning was evaluated using the Personal and So-

cial Performance (PSP) scale at baseline, at 6 months (discontinuation of

interventions) and after 6 months without interventions.

Results: The experimental group showed a trend to improvement in sus-

tained attention (p=0.075), yet this was not maintained after 6 months

without interventions. Both groups showed improvements in selective at-

tention and executive function at 6 months, which were not maintained

after one year, with no differences between groups. No differences were

found in social functioning between the groups and throughout the 12

months of follow-up. The factor analysis of the 5-factor PANSS (as pro-

posed by Van der Gaag, 2006) showed no significant change in the factors

“positive”, “negative”, “disorganization” and “emotional distress” over time

and between groups. Only the placebo group exhibited a significant im-

provement in the factor “excitement” after 6 months compared with the

experimental group, which was not maintained after 6 months without

interventions.

Discussion: The cognitive arithmetic training by the Kumon method tends

to improve sustained attention after 6 months, with no impact on either

executive function or working memory. This trend was not sustained after

6 months without interventions.

Poster #T54

INCREASING THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES ON ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC WARDS

Emese Csipke1,2, Diana Rose2, Paul McCrone2, Tom Craig2, Til Wykes3

1Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry; 2Kings College London;3Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London

Background: Introduction Service users have often reported that are very

few therapeutics activities for them to engage in while they are on inpatient

acute wards, in spite of numerous reports and professional bodies (e.g.,

NICE) recommending talking therapies to be provided on inpatient wards,

and specifically those who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Nurses often

report that solving crises and administrative tasks often prevent them. The

aims were twofold. Firstly to determine if executing such a programme

is feasible in a busy inpatient environment. Secondly, to investigate in

detail the difference that increasing therapeutic activities makes on the

environmental milieu and how this is perceived by service users and staff.

Methods: Method Sixteen wards took part, and they were randomised in

turn to receive a structured training programme aiming to equip nurses to

be able to run therapeutic groups independently. The main outcomes were

perceptions of staff and patients and secondary outcomes of service user

symptoms, length of stay and cost of care.

Results: Results The project demonstrated that nurses are able to indepen-

dently deliver therapeutic activities. The view that this would be beyond

their abilities undersells their skills. The uptake of the therapeutic groups

also demonstrates the receptiveness of acutely unwell people to such

interventions. The analysis of service user and nurse perceptions, ward

atmosphere as well as costings are currently under analysis.

Discussion: Discussion/Conclusion The enthusiasm of for these evidence

based group therapies by both staff and service users demonstrates their

feasibility even in challenging environments. We look forward to presenting

further data, when it becomes available, which demonstrates whether the

implementation of these ward activities leads to a significant improvement

in ward atmosphere, patient and staff perceptions.

Poster #T55

EFFECT OF LURASIDONE ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Josephine Cucchiaro, Jay Hsu, Antony Loebel

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc

Background: Clinically significant depressive symptoms are common in

schizophrenia, and are associated with greater functional impairment and

worse outcomes. The aim of the current post-hoc analysis was to evalu-

ate the efficacy of lurasidone in patients with a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of

schizophrenia who presented with significant depressive symptoms.

Methods: Pooled data were analyzed from 4, six-week, double-blind,

placebo-controlled schizophrenia trials, with available Montgomery-Asberg

Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) data. Patients with an acute exacer-

bation of schizophrenia were randomized to fixed once-daily doses of

lurasidone (n=902), in the dosing range of 40-160 mg, or placebo (n=439).

LOCF-endpoint data were analyzed using ANCOVA. MADRS remission was

defined as an endpoint score <10.

Results: At baseline, 45.0% and 24.5% of subjects had a MADRS score of

≥12, and ≥16, respectively. Treatment with lurasidone was associated

with significantly greater improvement in the MADRS at LOCF-endpoint

compared with placebo in the total sample (−2.8 vs. −1.4; p<0.001), and

in each baseline depression severity subgroup: MADRS ≥12 (−6.7 vs. −4.8;

p<0.005), and MADRS ≥16 (−9.3 vs. −6.3; p<0.005). Overall, the largest

effect size was observed for the 160 mg dose of lurasidone (0.43). For the

subgroup with MADRS≥16 at baseline, higher depression remission rates

were observed for lurasidone 160 mg (47.8%) compared with lurasidone 80

mg (38.6%) and lurasidone 40 mg (28.6%).

Discussion: In this pooled post-hoc analysis, once-daily doses of lurasidone,

in the dosage range of 40-160 mg, significantly reduced the severity of

depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Daily doses of 160

mg demonstrated the largest effect size. These results warrant further

evaluation of the efficacy of lurasidone in patients with schizophrenia who

present with co-morbid depression. Sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceuticals

International, Inc., and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (a US subsidiary of

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, Ltd.)

Poster #T56

LEARN BEFORE YOU BURN: THC IMPAIRS ENCODING BUT NOT RETRIEVAL

OF VERBAL INFORMATION

Deepak Cyril D’Souza1,2, Mohini Ranganathan3, Peter Addy1,

Halle Thurnauer3, Ashley Schnakenberg5, Brian Pittman6,

Rajiv Radhakrishnan1, Patrick Skosnik3, Richard Andrew Sewell6

1Yale University School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry; 2VA Connecticut

Healthcare System; 3Yale University Schizophrenia Neuropharmacology

Research Group (SNRG); 5Yale University/Indiana University; 6Yale University

Background: Cannabis and agonists of the brain cannabinoid receptor

(CB1R) such as �9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), produce acute memory

impairments in humans. The most well-studied acute effects of THC, the

main psychoactive component of cannabis, in humans are on declarative

verbal memory. However, the extent to which THC impairs encoding and/or

retrieval in humans is not clear. This is important to know given how widely

used cannabis is and also because the legalization of cannabis continues to

spread.

Methods: Healthy subjects, recruited from the community were adminis-

tered the Rey-Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) a measure of verbal

memory, either 1) before they were administered THC (experiment #1)

(n=38) or 2) while they were under the influence of THC (experiment #2)

(n=57). Immediate as well as short and long delayed recall were compared

across both experiments. Subjects received intravenous THC in a placebo-

controlled, double-blind, randomized manner at doses known to reliably

produce behavioral and subjective effects consistent with known effects of

cannabis.

Results: There was a large, statistically significant drug-by-experiment in-

teraction such that total immediate free recall, short delayed free recall, and

long delayed free recall was lower (worse) with THC compared to placebo

only in experiment #2, i.e. when the AVLT was first administered under the

influence of THC.