The Phoenix virtual reality self-confidence study

Not Applicable

• Conditions: on-affective psychosis with low positive self-belief; Mental and Behavioural Disorders

• Registration Number: ISRCTN10250113
• Lead Sponsor: niversity of Oxford

Brief Summary

2023 Protocol article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38149422/ (added 27/12/2023)

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-06-09
• Last Update Posted: 13 May 2024
• Study Completion: 2025-02-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Ongoing
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

1. Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial.
2. Aged between 16 years and 30 years old.
3. Attending NHS mental health services for treatment of psychosis.
4. Primary clinical diagnosis of non-affective psychosis (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, or psychosis NOS).
5. Low levels of positive self-beliefs indicated by a score of 50 or lower on the Oxford Positive Self Scale (OxPos).
6. Stable medication for at least one month and no planned significant changes at the outset of participation.

Exclusion Criteria

1. A primary diagnosis of another mental health condition (e.g. substance use disorder) that would be the first clinical priority to treat.
2. Current engagement in any other intensive individual psychological therapy.
3. In forensic settings or Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
4. Command of spoken English inadequate for engaging in the VR therapy.
5. Photosensitive epilepsy or significant visual, auditory, or balance impairment that would make use of VR inappropriate.
6. Significant learning difficulties that would prevent the completion of assessments.
7. A participant may also not enter the trial if there is another factor (for example, current active suicidal plans), which, in the judgement of the investigator, would preclude the participant from providing informed consent or from safely engaging with the trial procedures. Reason for exclusion will be recorded.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Positive self-beliefs measured by the Oxford Positive Self Scale [OxPos]. Timepoint(s): baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is 6 weeks.