Hearing voices is probably the worst form of acoustic hallucinations; which can be experienced as severely disturbing and is influenced by diverse factors including the ability of the individual to influence and control the hallucinatory experience itself. In recent years virtual reality has become a treatment option. In the so-called AVATAR Therapy, patients with schizophrenia and acoustic hallucinations design a visual and auditory recreation (avatar) of the entity to which they attribute their hallucinations. Working with a therapist over the course of several sessions, participants change the avatar from controlling to benevolent. Avatar Therapy involves similar processes to learning and cognitive restructuring, comparable to other psychotherapeutic interventions. The investigators plan to conduct an interventional study using a cross-over design, to compare the feasibility and efficacy of virtual reality avatar therapy for patients with acoustic hallucinations (independent of psychiatric diagnosis) with a cognitive behavioural group therapy aimed to improve social competence.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
100
The Virtual Reality Avatar Therapy (VRAT) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered through Virtual Reality.
The Assertiveness Training Program (ATP) is a Cognitive Behavioral Intervention, delivered as group therapy.
Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik Zürich
Zurich, Switzerland
RECRUITINGPsychopathological Assessment
Symptom Questionnaire
Time frame: Change: Baseline, 3, 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months]
Psychotic Symptoms
Symptom Questionnaire
Time frame: Change: Baseline, 3, 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months]
Insecurity- Self-confidence
Symptom Questionnaire
Time frame: Change: Baseline, 3, 6 weeks, 6 and 12 months]
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