Comparing Avatar Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Hearing Voices

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Avatar Therapy, an innovative psychological treatment, against the standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for individuals experiencing persistent auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) associated with psychotic disorders. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either therapy, with the goal of determining which approach leads to greater reductions in the severity of AVHs. The study focuses on individuals who have not responded adequately to traditional antipsychotic medications and have been living with these symptoms for at least a year. By utilizing avatars to recreate the voices during therapy, the study seeks to provide a more effective treatment option for this challenging symptom.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Schizophrenia-related disorder or a mood disorder with psychotic symptoms diagnosis confirmed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID)
* Experiencing current auditory verbal hallucinations as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) item P3 ≥ 4
* Auditory verbal hallucinations present for at least one year
* AVHs include significant negative content (PSYRATS item 6 ≥ 2) and/or AVHs are distressing (PSYRATS item item 9 ≥ 2)
* Current treatment with antipsychotic medication, or has been treated with antipsychotic medication in the past, with at least two different antipsychotic compounds, and these have been discontinued due to insufficient treatment response and/or poor tolerability.
* Access to the internet and a computer or other device on which videoconferencing software can be used
* Sufficient fluency in English for meaningful participation
* Age 18 or over
* Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Auditory verbal hallucinations attributable to a primary substance use disorder or organic disorder
* Estimated full scale IQ \< 70 (using the Test of Premorbid Functioning, TOPF)
* Within the last month or planned at the time of intake: a change of antipsychotic medication,
* Current or within the past 3 months receipt of individual psychological therapy for hearing voices, or receipt of electro-convulsive therapy or other brain stimulation treatment;
* AVHs in a language not spoken by the therapists.

Where it's running

• Swinburne University of Technology
  Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Neil Thomas — Swinburne University of Technology
• Study coordinator: Neil Thomas
• Email: neilthomas@swin.edu.au
• Phone: +61 3 92148742

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.