A talking therapy for changes in sense of self in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Tests SELF-7 psychotherapy added to usual outpatient care in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Psychotherapy for Self-Disorders in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder
Key facts
- Where
- Slagelse, DenmarkSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 50 years old?
Source: NCT07841418, who can take part
Where in Denmark
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Mental Health Services Region ZealandSlagelse, DenmarkNo longer taking part
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
- Psychiatric Research Unit, Region Zealand, Denmark
- Trial code
- NCT07841418
- Record updated
- 25 September 2026
- Original description
The primary goal of the VITALIZE study is to evaluate the feasibility of SELF-7, a novel phenomenologically informed psychotherapy for self-disorders, as an add-on to standard psychiatric outpatient treatment - Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (F-ACT) - in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The main question is whether SELF-7 is feasible and acceptable in routine psychiatric outpatient care (F-ACT teams). A secondary objective of the study is to explore whether SELF-7 may reduce psychological distress related to self-disorders and improve personal recovery, well-being, functioning, perceived stress, suicidal ideation, symptom severity, insight, and self-disorders. Researchers will compare SELF-7 plus F-ACT with F-ACT alone. Participants will be randomized to one of the two groups, complete clinical interviews and questionnaires at baseline, 16 weeks, and 26 weeks, and, if allocated to SELF-7, receive 12 individual psychotherapy sessions in addition to standard care (F-ACT).Read full original descriptionShow less
Psychotherapy for Abnormalities of Self-VITALITY in Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: A Feasibility RCT [VITALIZE]
The primary goal of the VITALIZE study is to evaluate the feasibility of SELF-7, a novel phenomenologically informed psychotherapy for self-disorders, as an add-on to standard psychiatric outpatient treatment - Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (F-ACT) - in adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The main question is whether SELF-7 is feasible and acceptable in routine psychiatric outpatient care (F-ACT teams). A secondary objective of the study is to explore whether SELF-7 may reduce psychological distress related to self-disorders and improve personal recovery, well-being, functioning, perceived stress, suicidal ideation, symptom severity, insight, and self-disorders. Researchers will compare SELF-7 plus F-ACT with F-ACT alone. Participants will be randomized to one of the two groups, complete clinical interviews and questionnaires at baseline, 16 weeks, and 26 weeks, and, if allocated to SELF-7, receive 12 individual psychotherapy sessions in addition to standard care (F-ACT).
Inclusion: Age ≥18 years; Capacity to understand study procedures and provide written informed consent; ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20.x) or schizotypal disorder (F21); Receiving treatment in a Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (F-ACT) team; Discharged from the OPUS early intervention outpatient programme within the past 5 years; Clinically stable with regard to antipsychotic treatment (receiving antipsychotic medication or not receiving antipsychotic medication) and with no planned substantial changes in antipsychotic treatment at the time of inclusion.
Exclusion: Current forensic psychiatric status; Severe comorbid somatic illness or severe comorbid psychiatric disorder that substantially compromises the ability to participate in psychotherapy; Insufficient proficiency in Danish to participate in psychotherapy and complete study assessments; Current severe alcohol or substance dependence; Clinically assessed elevated risk of severe self-harm, suicide, or harm to others; Not deemed able to participate in psychotherapy based on clinical judgment.