VR avatar therapy for psychosis: linking thinking, self-awareness, and social cognition
Evaluation of Cognitive, Metacognitive, Social Cognition and Trauma Related-Variables in Patients With Psychosis Receiving VR-Based Avatar Therapy
This project will test whether cognitive, metacognitive, and social-cognition factors relate to how well VR-based avatar therapy helps people with schizophrenia who have persistent auditory hallucinations.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Fundació Sant Joan de Déu Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Barcelona, Catalonia) |
| Trial ID | NCT07091344 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Participants with schizophrenia and ongoing auditory hallucinations will receive seven individual VR-based avatar therapy sessions delivered over a 12-week intervention period. Researchers will measure neurocognition, metacognition, emotion recognition, attributional style, theory of mind, and social perception using validated tools at screening, baseline, during therapy, and at a post-therapy follow-up. Childhood trauma will also be measured to explore its role as a predisposing factor. The goal is to identify which cognitive and metacognitive profiles predict better or worse therapy outcomes to inform more personalized approaches.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) with a DSM-5 schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis, persistent auditory hallucinations despite treatment, stable medication for at least four weeks, fluent in Spanish, and able to attend in-person VR sessions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who cannot tolerate VR, have severe visual or neurological impairments, active substance abuse, intellectual disability, current suicidal risk, or who cannot identify a dominant voice for the avatar may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could help tailor VR avatar therapy to individuals by identifying cognitive or metacognitive traits linked to better outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous avatar-based VR interventions for auditory hallucinations have shown promising results, but combining them with detailed cognitive and metacognitive profiling is a relatively novel approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
\*\*Inclusion Criteria:\*\* * Adults aged 18 years or older. * Diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder according to DSM-5 criteria. * Experience of persistent auditory hallucinations for at least 3 months (PANSS hallucination score ≥ 3). * Stable medication dosage for at least 4 weeks prior to recruitment. * Fluent in the spoken language of the study site (Spanish). * Able to provide informed consent. * Regular psychiatric follow-up care. \*\*Exclusion Criteria:\*\* * Inability to identify a dominant voice for Avatar Therapy intervention. * Intellectual disability based on medical history. * Active substance abuse. * Central nervous system injury or neurological disorders affecting cognitive performance. * Severe visual impairment that precludes the use of VR technology. * Aversion to virtual reality or prior experience of simulator sickness. * Current suicidal ideation or risk. * Lack of cooperation or inability to comply with study procedures.
Where this trial is running
Barcelona, Catalonia
- Fundació Sant Joan de Déu - Unitat de Recerca del Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu — Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Susana Ochoa, PhD
- Email: susana.ochoa@sjd.es
- Phone: +34936406350
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.