Balkbrug

Ethnic minorities and asylum seekers face a two- to three-times higher risk of developing psychosis compared to people from their host country. Among those with psychosis, paranoid delusions are common, but diagnosing these symptoms is challenging due to language barriers and cultural differences in social behavior and communication. This research aims to use Virtual Reality (VR) to study the thoughts, behaviors, and emotions of asylum seekers with psychotic disorders and paranoid delusions in real-time, offering a potentially effective transcultural assessment tool. Participants will be immersed in a VR environment using a head-mounted display, where they will experience four different scenarios lasting three to four minutes each. They will be guided through simple movements to explore and observe the virtual surroundings. The study combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and questionnaires such as PANSS, SSPS, SBQ, and VAS, to gather detailed information about their experiences and symptoms. During the study, participants will take part in a 2.5-hour phenomenological interview to discuss their VR experience, which will be audio recorded and transcribed for analysis. Psychiatrists specializing in transcultural psychiatry will also review video and audio recordings of the VR sessions to assess paranoid behavior. The total assessment takes about 90 minutes, with careful monitoring to address any simulator sickness or mood changes. No direct benefits are expected, and participants can opt out at any time.