Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult between the ages of 18-55; we chose an upper age limit of 55 years to exclude patients with potential age-related cognitive impairments which usually occur about a decade earlier in patients with schizophrenia * Inpatient or outpatient with schizophrenia spectrum illness, on any antipsychotic medication * Clinically stable for the past 4 weeks * Able to communicate in English Exclusion Criteria: * Have known sensitivity to methylphenidate ER, as documented in the electronic medical record OR, as reported by the patient AND verified by pharmacy * Have had treatment with ECT in the past 6 months * Have a history of traumatic brain injury * Have a contraindication to psychostimulants including: 1. Uncontrolled hypertension 2. Significant cardiovascular abnormality including history of cardiac interventions, history of myocardial infarction, unstable arrhythmia, congenital heart disease 3. Known family history of premature cardiac death (for males \<45, females \<55) 4. Known history of glaucoma * Are currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant- a rapid urine pregnancy test will be done for female participants, and a refusal to take the test or a positive test will exclude the participant * Have a diagnosis of substance induced psychosis * Have any of the following diagnoses: neurodevelopmental delay, intellectual disability or neurocognitive disorder (dementia) * Have a diagnosis of another currently significant and unstable psychiatric condition (i.e. depressive episode, active substance use disorder, etc.) * Have a history of previous safety concerns directly driven by positive symptoms (e.g history of suicide attempt as directed by auditory hallucinations) * Have current active suicidality