Clinical Trial: Virtual Reality Therapy for Treatment-resistant Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Active, not recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Emotion Regulation Using Virtual Reality in Schizophrenia: a Clinical and Mechanistic Trial of Avatar Therapy for Refractory Auditory Hallucinations

Brief Summary: Treatment of verbal hallucinations in schizophrenia is clinically challenging for both the patient and the therapist. For the therapist, one of the main difficulties arises from the impossibility of directly communicating with the entity persecuting the patient. For the patient, the therapeutic process is challenging because it aims at getting to better cope with an entity that keeps repeating stereotyped and abusive sentences without having the emotional strength to reply to the persecutor. To help overcome these clinical challenges, virtual reality enable patients to recreate the face and the voice of their persecutor.The hypothesis is that the engagement of patients in a dialogue with an external representation of their persecutor, with the support of the therapist, would help them to gain better control over their voices.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Current Primary Outcome: Change in Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale - auditory hallucinations [ Time Frame: Within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment, follow-up 3 months ]

11-item structured interview assessing the severity of auditory hallucinations


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Change in Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire - Revised [ Time Frame: Within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment, follow-up 3 months ]
    35-item self-report measure designed to assess key beliefs and responses people have concerning their voice
  • Change in Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale [ Time Frame: Within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment, follow-up 3 months ]
    30-item semi-structured interview investigating overall symptoms severity of schizophrenia in the last week
  • Change in Beck Depression Inventory - II [ Time Frame: Within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment, follow-up 3 months ]
    21-item self-report measure assessing depression symptoms over the past 2 weeks
  • Change in Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire - Short From [ Time Frame: Within 1 week before treatment, within 1 week after treatment, follow-up 3 months ]
    16-item self-report scale measuring enjoyment and satisfaction experienced during the past week in various areas of daily functioning


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Dates:
Date Received: May 5, 2017
Date Started: September 1, 2015
Date Completion: June 1, 2017
Last Updated: May 8, 2017
Last Verified: May 2017