VR-CBT With Inuit in Quebec

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age14-60
SponsorDouglas Mental Health University Institute

About this trial

The study design is a two-arm randomized controlled pilot trial. The investigators will recruit Inuit in Montreal and randomly assign them to two treatment groups (n=20 each). The active psychotherapy group will receive a ten-week manualized virtual reality (VR) assisted cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (VR-CBT) at the clinic and guided by a psychotherapist. The VR-CBT will aim at improving emotion regulation. The comparison group will use a VR self-management program, Calm Place, for guided relaxation during ten weeks at home. To evaluate outcome in both groups, the researchers will measure self-reports of emotion regulation, affect, distress and well-being, as well as a psychophysiological reactivity paradigm pre-post treatment.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Self-identify as Inuk

Live in Montreal

be between 14 to 60 years of age

be proficient in English or French

Disqualifiers

does not identify as Inuk

youth below the age of 14 and adults above the age of 60.

self-reported history of psychosis or schizophrenia

current substance abuse, as measured by two screens (AUDIT-C, DAST-10)

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • VR-CBT
  • Self-management

Treatment groups

40 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Lead sponsor

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada

Collaborator

MedTeq

Collaborator

Douglas Foundation

Collaborator

McGill University

Collaborator