Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy for People Hearing Voices

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

100 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-07-01

Study Completion Date

2025-12-31

Brief Summary

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Hearing voices is probably the worst form of acoustic hallucinations; which can be experienced as severely disturbing and is influenced by diverse factors including the ability of the individual to influence and control the hallucinatory experience itself. In recent years virtual reality has become a treatment option. In the so-called AVATAR Therapy, patients with schizophrenia and acoustic hallucinations design a visual and auditory recreation (avatar) of the entity to which they attribute their hallucinations. Working with a therapist over the course of several sessions, participants change the avatar from controlling to benevolent. Avatar Therapy involves similar processes to learning and cognitive restructuring, comparable to other psychotherapeutic interventions. The investigators plan to conduct an interventional study using a cross-over design, to compare the feasibility and efficacy of virtual reality avatar therapy for patients with acoustic hallucinations (independent of psychiatric diagnosis) with a cognitive behavioural group therapy aimed to improve social competence.

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Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Psychosis Schizophrenia Schizo Affective Disorder Hearing Voices When No One is Talking (Symptom)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

The investigators plan to conduct a single-blind, randomised, controlled trial in a cross-over design to assess the feasibility and efficacy of VRAT in patients with acoustic hallucinations, independent of the main diagnosis.

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT)

In the VRAT, patients with schizophrenia and acoustic hallucinations design a visual and auditory recreation (avatar) of the entity to which they attribute their hallucinations. Working with a therapist over the course of several sessions, participants change the avatar from controlling to benevolent.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered through Virtual Reality.

Assertiveness Training Program (ATP)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Assertiveness Training Program (ATP) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered as group therapy.

Assertiveness Training Program (ATP)

The ATP is a transdiagnostic cognitive behavioural treatment programme, which aims to increase self-confidence and social competence in patients with a psychiatric disorder.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered through Virtual Reality.

Assertiveness Training Program (ATP)

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The Assertiveness Training Program (ATP) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered as group therapy.

Interventions

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Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT)

The Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered through Virtual Reality.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Assertiveness Training Program (ATP)

The Assertiveness Training Program (ATP) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered as group therapy.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Consistent acoustic hallucinations, with the presence of voices for at least two months.
* Participants are competent to give informed consent, as determined by the referring physician or psychiatrist.
* German language proficiency as a native speaker or level B1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL)