Comparing Avatar Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Hearing Voices
Remotely Delivered Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Auditory Hallucinations: Randomised Controlled Superiority Trial
This study is testing whether Avatar Therapy can help people with long-term hearing voices feel better compared to standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 212 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Swinburne University of Technology Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hawthorn, Victoria) |
| Trial ID | NCT05982158 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and over with a diagnosis of schizophrenia-related disorders or mood disorders with psychotic symptoms, who have experienced persistent auditory verbal hallucinations for at least one year.
Not a fit: Patients who do not experience auditory verbal hallucinations or those who have not tried multiple antipsychotic medications may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could offer a new and more effective treatment option for patients suffering from distressing auditory hallucinations.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary trials of avatar therapy have shown promising results, indicating potential success for this novel approach compared to traditional therapies.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
Hawthorn, Victoria
- 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
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.