Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Experiences of Hearing Voices
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorSwinburne University of Technology
About this trial
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 criteria
Qualifiers
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)
Disqualifiers
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;
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Avatar therapy
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Treatment groups
212 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsSponsors and collaborators
Swinburne University of Technology
Lead sponsor
University of Copenhagen
Collaborator
University of Manchester
Collaborator
University of Melbourne
Collaborator
Monash University
Collaborator
Perth Voices Clinic
Collaborator
University of the Sunshine Coast
Collaborator
University of Toronto
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov