SCOUT Study

Participating in research studies like the SCOUT Study allows participants to become more educated on their illness. It also allows participants to have a more involved role in their healthcare, as well as help contribute to research that could possibly lead to medical innovations and more effective treatments.

Understanding mental illness can lead to improvements in caring for individuals. Mental health research is the first step toward new, more effective treatments and ultimately possible prevention in people who may be at risk.

As a participant, you would be asked to:
Sign a consent form indicating your agreement to participate.

Procedures include:

Part A: Pre-Training

• A visit to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center that will include personal interviews, questionnaires, and assessments of your memory and attention
• An fMRI  while performing memory, attention and problem solving tasks
• A 7-day online questionnaire about your thoughts and feelings to be completed at home

Part B: Computer Game training, Session I

• Play various computer games aimed at improving your memory and attention
• To be played for 20 sessions of 45 minutes over a 5 week period

Part C: Mid-Point Assessment

• Several of the pre-training assessments will be completed again, as well as the diary
• An fMRI scan while performing for memory, attention and problem solving tasks

Part D: Computer game Training, Session II

• Play various computer games aimed at improving your attention and memory
• To be played for 20 sessions of 45 minutes over a 5 week period

Part E: Post-Training

• Several of the pre-training assessments will be completed again, as well as the diary
• An fMRI scan while performing for memory, attention and problem solving tasks

Part F: Follow-Up Visit

• A 9-month follow-up visit after completion of the post-training tasks
• Will include an interview as well as several more computer tasks

This study takes place at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, East Campus. Individuals who participate will be compensated with up to $2,165 for completion of the study. All assessments are free of charge.

Understanding mental illness can lead to improvements in caring for individuals. Mental health research is the first step toward new, more effective treatments and ultimately possible prevention in people who may be at risk.

Eligible for the study are individuals (age 15-30) who experience mental health difficulties such as:

• Feeling like your mind/ears/eyes are playing tricks on you
• Suspiciousness or uneasiness with others
• Difficulties with academics
• Work or social functioning
• Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Decline in personal hygiene
• Feeling more anxious, depressed or out of touch, or having strange feelings or no feelings at all

Excluded from the study are people with mental retardation, people with serious medical problems or prolonged drug or alcohol abuse.

For more information, please contact: 

Corin Pilo-Comtois, LMHC at (617) 754- 1224
or by email at cpilo@bidmc.harvard.edu

Please click on the link to view the brochure: SCOUT brochure