Comparing Avatar Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Schizophrenia with Hallucinations
A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Avatar Therapy to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Schizophrenia With Treatment Refractory Hallucinations
This study is testing whether Avatar Therapy, which uses virtual reality to interact with distressing voices, works better than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for people with schizophrenia who still hear voices despite trying other treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 136 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Montréal, Quebec) |
| Trial ID | NCT04054778 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Avatar Therapy compared to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who experience distressing auditory hallucinations. The innovative Avatar Therapy utilizes immersive virtual reality to create a dialogue between the patient and a virtual representation of their distressing voice, potentially offering a new therapeutic avenue. The study will include patients who have not responded to at least two antipsychotic medications and will assess the impact of these therapies on hallucination severity and emotional regulation. By addressing a significant unmet need in psychotherapeutic options for schizophrenia, this research seeks to provide new insights into effective treatment strategies.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who experience distressing auditory verbal hallucinations and have not responded to two antipsychotic trials.
Not a fit: Patients with substance use disorders, neurological disorders, or those experiencing acute psychotic episodes may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a novel and effective treatment option for patients suffering from treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations.
How similar studies have performed: While traditional CBT has shown moderate results, the use of Avatar Therapy in this context is a novel approach that has shown promising preliminary results in pilot studies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder * Distressing auditory verbal hallucinations * Did not respond to 2 antipsychotic trials * Stable doses of medication during the last 2 months prior to enrollment Exclusion Criteria: * Substance use disorder within the last 12 months * Neurological disorder * Intellectual disability * Unstable and serious physical illnesses * Experiencing an acute psychotic episode * Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for psychosis within the last 12 months
Where this trial is running
Montréal, Quebec
- Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal — Montréal, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Alexandre Dumais, MD, PhD — Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire en santé Mentale de Montréal
- Study coordinator: Alexandre Dumais, MD, PhD
- Email: alexandre.dumais@umontreal.ca
- Phone: 514-251-4000
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.