Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Experiences of Hearing Voices
Remotely Delivered Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Auditory Hallucinations: Randomised Controlled Superiority Trial
Swinburne University of Technology
212 participants
Aug 8, 2023
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The aim of this study is to compare the effects of a new psychological therapy, Avatar Therapy, to the current standard therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), in improving outcomes in people living with psychotic disorders who have persisting experiences of hearing voices (auditory verbal hallucinations, AVHs).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria9
- 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 Criteria5
- 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.
Interventions
Seven 50-minute therapy sessions conducted by videoconferencing.
Seven 50-minute therapy sessions conducted by videoconferencing.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT05982158