Seven-step phenomenological therapy for self-disorders in schizophrenia-spectrum conditions
Seven-step Phenomenological Psychotherapy for Self-disorder - a Pilot Study
This pilot will try a seven-step psychotherapy to help adults with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders or early psychosis who experience disturbances in their sense of self.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 8 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 39 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Oslo University Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Sandvika, Bærum and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06597864 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The trial tests a manualized Seven-Step Phenomenological Psychotherapy for Self-Disorder (SSPP-SD) delivered as 14 individual sessions over 7–10 weeks, beginning with a semi-structured EASE interview. Therapy emphasizes phenomenological exploration of anomalous self-experiences, psychoeducation, and joint development of new meanings and understandings related to those experiences. The study uses a qualitative, phenomenological design with in-depth interviews after treatment to capture how participants experienced the therapy, its acceptability, and perceived changes in self-experience and relationships. Findings are descriptive and intended to guide refinement of the manual and design of future controlled trials.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults with an ICD-10 non-affective psychotic diagnosis (schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, or related) diagnosed within the past three years, or those meeting psychosis-risk criteria, who present anomalous self-experiences and are motivated to work on them in Norwegian-language psychotherapy are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with severe ongoing psychosis, severe active substance abuse, IQ below 70, or insufficient Norwegian language proficiency are unlikely to benefit or be eligible for this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the therapy could reduce distress and improve sense of self, daily functioning, and relationships for people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders.
How similar studies have performed: There are few prior empirical studies specifically targeting self-disorders, so this phenomenological, manualized approach is largely novel and not yet widely tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical diagnoses in the ICD-10-CM Code range, i.e. schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders. First diagnosed no more than 3 years ago. * Or Psychosis risk syndrome as defined in the Structured Interview of Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) (McGlashan, Walsh, \& Woods, 2010) * Present with anomalous self-experiences, as confirmed by the Screen Questionnaire for EASE (SQuEASE-6) (Møller, 2018) * Motivated to explore and work with anomalous self-experiences in psychotherapy Exclusion Criteria: * Severe, ongoing psychosis * Severe, ongoing drug abuse * IQ\<70 * Poor Norwegian language profiency
Where this trial is running
Sandvika, Bærum and 1 other locations
- Bærum DPS — Sandvika, Bærum, Norway (Recruiting)
- Akershus University Hospital — Oslo, Norway (Completed)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Tor Gunnar Værnes, Dr.philos. — Oslo University Hospital, Early Intervention in Psychosis Advisory Unit for South-East Norway
- Study coordinator: Tor Gunnar Værnes, Dr.philos.
- Email: uxvrnt@ous-hf.no
- Phone: 0047 92 45 56 78
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.