Compares avatar therapy with talking therapy for persistent hearing voices
Tests avatar therapy against cognitive behavioural therapy in adults who hear voices.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Experiences of Hearing Voices
Key facts
- Where
- Hawthorn, AustraliaSee the site
Where in Australia
- Swinburne University of TechnologyHawthorn, AustraliaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Trial code
- NCT05982158
- Record updated
- 22 November 2024
- Original description
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).Read full original descriptionShow less
Remotely Delivered Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Auditory Hallucinations: Randomised Controlled Superiority 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).
Inclusion: 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: 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; 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); AVHs in a language not spoken by the therapists.