Remote Avatar Therapy Compared to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persistent Hearing Voices in Psychotic Disorders

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the effects of a new psychological treatment called Avatar Therapy compared to the current standard Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT for people with psychotic disorders who experience ongoing hearing of voices, known as auditory verbal hallucinations AVHs. This study aims to find out if Avatar Therapy, which has shown promising results in early trials, is superior to CBT in helping those whose voices persist despite medication. The trial focuses on individuals with schizophrenia-related or mood disorders with psychotic symptoms who have had these hallucinations for at least a year and have not responded well to antipsychotic medications. The study involves two groups receiving therapy remotely via videoconferencing. One group will receive seven 50-minute sessions of CBT that focus on understanding and managing the voices through coping strategies and cognitive restructuring. The other group will receive seven 50-minute sessions of Avatar Therapy, where participants create a visual and audio avatar of their main voice to interact with and practice new ways of responding, combined with broader CBT methods. This innovative approach allows participants to engage directly with a virtual representation of their voices to reduce distress. Participants will be assessed at several points immediately after the 3-month intervention and at 6 and 9 months follow-up. Researchers will measure the severity of auditory hallucinations, distress related to the voices, remission rates, overall psychosis symptoms, depression, anxiety, and personal recovery using various standardized scales. The study will use structured interviews, questionnaires, and rating scales to monitor progress and outcomes. Participation includes regular videoconference therapy sessions and assessment visits over a period of up to nine months.

Avatar-mediated Therapy Versus Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Persisting Experiences of Hearing Voices