Contribution of Virtual Reality Eye Tracking in the Identification of Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Depression

NCT ID: NCT07057024

Last Updated: 2025-07-09

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

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-30

Study Completion Date

2028-12-31

Brief Summary

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Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BP), and depression (DEP) are systematically associated with a severe impairment of the overall abilities of patients, which precludes them from functioning adequately in daily life. A large body of literature emphasises the importance of identifying specific markers for these pathologies to prevent or anticipate the emergence of new psychopathological symptoms.

As a result, one of the current research challenges is to develop new, faster, and more reliable tools. Eye movements are physiological signs involving brain areas that control cognitive processes. These same processes could be altered in psychiatric disorders, and these alterations could produce many eye movement abnormalities.

The literature highlights some eye movement abnormalities specific to each targeted pathology. However, to our knowledge, no study has compared eye movement abnormalities in a virtual environment projected in a head-mounted display (HMD).

The investigators hypothesised that an eye tracker connected to an HMD could identify specific eye movement abnormalities of SCZ, BP, and DEP. Recording eye movements specific to these pathologies in pseudo-ecological situations could lead to better identification methods.

Detailed Description

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Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BP), and depression (DEP) are among the most incapacitating pathologies. Specific abnormalities such as characteristics of fixations (stability of the eye) and saccades (movement between one fixation point to an another) are proposed as endophenotypic markers of these diseases, particularly in SCZ and BP.

In SCZ, literature reports as core abnormalities a saccadic pursuit in the Smooth Pursuit Eye Movement (SPEM) and a restricted field of exploration in free-viewing. In BP, fixation times and eye movement velocity during free-viewing differ from those identified in SCZ. When psychotic features are present, BP's pursuit movement is similar to SCZ's. Moreover, eye movement abnormalities are correlated with the presence of manic/hypomanic or depressive symptoms, even in or saccadic paradigms (i.e., anti-saccade or guided memorisation). In DEP, eye movements are significantly different from BP regarding movement velocity, while fixation times are similar in the saccade or free viewing paradigms. In addition, pursuit movements are not saccadic in the SPEM task.

Nevertheless, studies do not necessarily use equipment with the same performance, and eye-tracking technology constantly evolves. Eye-tracking can now be included in Virtual Reality (VR) Head- Mounted Displays, permitting the creation of new pseudo-ecological paradigms.

The investigators hypothesise that abnormalities in eye movements in SCZ, BP, and DEP will be identifiable in VR environments compared to healthy controls, and could differentiate them one from the other.

Participants will be assessed using scales and questionnaires and eye-tracking in VR environments. The data will be analysed using statistical processing to identify significant differences in eye movements between SCZ, BP, and DEP and healthy controls.

Conditions

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Psychiatric Disorders (Diagnosis)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Eye movements in virtual reality record

All participants will be assessed in virtual reality environments with eye tracking recording environments and eye tracking recording with a Varjo XR4 HMD.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Clinical and eye movements

Intervention Type OTHER

Eye tracking in virtual reality environment:

Clinical and psychometric assessment :

* Auto-assessment scales : State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-TRAIT/ STAI-STATE), Fagerström Test For Nicotine Dependance (FTND), Annett handedness questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS)
* Hetero-assessment scales : Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI DSM version 5), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS), Positive And Negative Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS)

Interventions

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Clinical and eye movements

Eye tracking in virtual reality environment:

Clinical and psychometric assessment :

* Auto-assessment scales : State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-TRAIT/ STAI-STATE), Fagerström Test For Nicotine Dependance (FTND), Annett handedness questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS)
* Hetero-assessment scales : Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI DSM version 5), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HDRS), Positive And Negative Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS)

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

For all participants:

* Male or female, aged 18 to 60 years
* Subject having given their written consent to the study For Schizophrenia participants :

* Diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-V criteria and stabilised for at least three months

For bipolar disorder participants :

\- Diagnosis of bipolar disorders according to DSM-V criteria and stabilised for at least three months

For depressive disorders participants :

\- Diagnosis of depressive disorders according to DSM-V criteria and stabilised for at least three months

Exclusion Criteria

For all the participants :

* Subjects unable to give consent or not volunteering for the study.
* Current(s) somatic(s) condition(s)
* Specific ophthalmological problems (strabismus, amblyopia) incompatible with the devices stereoscopic (VR headsets)
* Head trauma's history with loss of consciousness
* Epilepsy history
* Intellectual disability
* Difficulties in understanding the French language
* Current or during the last 6 months of substance abuse or dependence (except tobacco)
* Freedom restriction by judicial or administrative decision and/or coercive hospitalisation
* Cybersickness history
* Pregnancy

For healthy control group :

* Current or previous psychiatric disorder
* Current psychotropic drug therapy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Aix Marseille Université

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hopital Paul Brousse

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Etablissement Public de Santé Barthélemy Durand

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Eric Artiges

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Etablissement Public de Santé Barthélemy Durand

Locations

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Etablissement Public de Santé Barthélemy Durand

Étampes, , France

Site Status

Countries

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France

Central Contacts

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Morgane Da Silva Hennequin

Role: CONTACT

+33182268108

Adélaïde Aduayi

Role: CONTACT

+33175021681

Facility Contacts

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Morgane Da Silva Hennequin

Role: primary

+33182268108

Adelaïde Aduayi

Role: backup

+33 1 75 02 16 81

References

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Brakemeier S, Sprenger A, Meyhofer I, McDowell JE, Rubin LH, Hill SK, Keshavan MS, Pearlson GD, Tamminga CA, Gershon ES, Keedy SS, Sweeney JA, Clementz BA, Lencer R. Smooth pursuit eye movement deficits as a biomarker for psychotic features in bipolar disorder-Findings from the PARDIP study. Bipolar Disord. 2020 Sep;22(6):602-611. doi: 10.1111/bdi.12865. Epub 2019 Nov 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31721386 (View on PubMed)

Carter BT, Luke SG. Best practices in eye tracking research. Int J Psychophysiol. 2020 Sep;155:49-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.05.010. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32504653 (View on PubMed)

Carvalho N, Laurent E, Noiret N, Chopard G, Haffen E, Bennabi D, Vandel P. Eye Movement in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Front Psychol. 2015 Dec 15;6:1809. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01809. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26696915 (View on PubMed)

Miskowiak KW, Seeberg I, Kjaerstad HL, Burdick KE, Martinez-Aran A, Del Mar Bonnin C, Bowie CR, Carvalho AF, Gallagher P, Hasler G, Lafer B, Lopez-Jaramillo C, Sumiyoshi T, McIntyre RS, Schaffer A, Porter RJ, Purdon S, Torres IJ, Yatham LN, Young AH, Kessing LV, Van Rheenen TE, Vieta E. Affective cognition in bipolar disorder: A systematic review by the ISBD targeting cognition task force. Bipolar Disord. 2019 Dec;21(8):686-719. doi: 10.1111/bdi.12834. Epub 2019 Oct 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31491048 (View on PubMed)

Morita K, Miura K, Kasai K, Hashimoto R. Eye movement characteristics in schizophrenia: A recent update with clinical implications. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep. 2020 Mar;40(1):2-9. doi: 10.1002/npr2.12087. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31774633 (View on PubMed)

Wang Y, Lyu HL, Tian XH, Lang B, Wang XY, St Clair D, Wu R, Zhao J. The similar eye movement dysfunction between major depressive disorder, bipolar depression and bipolar mania. World J Biol Psychiatry. 2022 Nov;23(9):689-702. doi: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2025616. Epub 2022 Feb 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35112653 (View on PubMed)

Wiebe A, Kannen K, Selaskowski B, Mehren A, Thone AK, Pramme L, Blumenthal N, Li M, Asche L, Jonas S, Bey K, Schulze M, Steffens M, Pensel MC, Guth M, Rohlfsen F, Ekhlas M, Lugering H, Fileccia H, Pakos J, Lux S, Philipsen A, Braun N. Virtual reality in the diagnostic and therapy for mental disorders: A systematic review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2022 Dec;98:102213. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102213. Epub 2022 Oct 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36356351 (View on PubMed)

Wolf A, Ueda K, Hirano Y. Recent updates of eye movement abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia: A scoping review. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2021 Mar;75(3):82-100. doi: 10.1111/pcn.13188. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33314465 (View on PubMed)

Zheng Z, Liang L, Luo X, Chen J, Lin M, Wang G, Xue C. Diagnosing and tracking depression based on eye movement in response to virtual reality. Front Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 5;15:1280935. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1280935. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38374979 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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24P01

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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