Decrease Trauma-related Shame with Virtual Reality: the Effectiveness of SHINE-VR
- Conditions
- Shame
- Interventions
- Behavioral: SHINE-VR
- Registration Number
- NCT06384508
- Lead Sponsor
- Universiteit Leiden
- Brief Summary
Suffering from PTSD in childhood can have detrimental formative consequences. Researchers have been eager to develop effective interventions and to enhance treatment motivation since the introduction of the diagnosis of PTSD in the DSM. With evolving understanding of the disorder, its definition and criteria have changed over the course of time. The most recent change involves the addition of the criterium D of negative affects or emotions in relation to PTSD, the feeling of shame amongst others. Individuals experiencing interpersonal trauma, such as sexual abuse, are at high-risk developing trauma-related shame, which in turn can impact the course and effectiveness of PTSD treatment. Shame-inducing situations are typically being avoided, and the feelings are not disclosed to peers and other people. Hence, acknowledging and sharing feelings of shame as well as practicing self-compassion have been proposed to reduce the impact of that negative self-conscious emotion. These aspects get partially tackled in evidence-based trauma therapies, however, there appears to be a need for a more specific trauma-related shame intervention in addition to existing treatments. Recent research has focused on developing such interventions for adults and has reported positive effects.
To our knowledge, there is no intervention specifically tackling trauma-related shame in adolescents. Virtual Reality (VR) is a promising tool for such an intervention. Findings suggest that including VR in a treatment results in high treatment satisfaction and that it is highly motivating for its users, which is a crucial component for treatment success.
The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of a short-term VR shame intervention (SHINE-VR) for adolescents suffering from PTSD after having experienced sexual abuse. The primary objectives of this study to assess the effect of SHINE-VR on trauma-related shame, self-compassion, and PTSD symptom reduction, to investigate whether treatment motivation, an increase in self-compassion, and a decrease in trauma-related shame are associated with PTSD symptom reduction, and the evaluation of SHINE-VR by assessing the feasibility of the intervention.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 10
- Between 12 and 17 years old at inclusion
- Interpersonal trauma (sexual abuse); in case of multiple traumas the main trauma should be sexual abuse
- Indication for PTSD treatment
- Getting trauma treatment as usual
- Adequate command of the Dutch language
- Known mental disability
- Epilepsy
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description SHINE-VR Baseline 2 weeks SHINE-VR Participants will receive SHINE-VR additionally to regular trauma treatment, consisting of at least Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). The baseline phase starts after completion of module 6 of TF-CBT. This group has a two week baseline, 3 weeks intervention, and a 1 week follow-up phase. SHINE-VR Baseline 1 week SHINE-VR Participants will receive SHINE-VR additionally to regular trauma treatment, consisting of at least Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT). The baseline phase starts after completion of module 6 of TF-CBT. This group has a one week baseline, 3 weeks intervention, and 2 week follow-up phase.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Self-compassion Daily throughout the 6 weeks, resulting in 42 assessments Self-compassion will be measured with the Dutch translation of the Self-Compassion Scale-Youth version. Each of the 6 items is rated on a 1-5 Likert scale, 3 of them are reversed. The outcome measure is the sum score of all items divided by the number of items. Higher scores mean better outcome.
Trauma-related shame Daily throughout the 6 weeks, resulting in 42 assessments Shame experienced in relation to sexual abuse will be measured with a self-developed questionnaire. The first 4 items are based on the Dutch translation of the Shame and Guilt After Trauma Scale. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher scores mean worse outcome. 2 items are reversed. Higher scores mean worse outcome.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method PTSD symptoms Daily on weekdays throughout the 6 weeks, resulting in 30 assessments PTSD symptoms will be measured with the Kind en Jeugd Traumascreener. Items 1-20 measuring the symptoms will be used, each item is rated on a 0-3 Likert scale. The outcome measure is the sum score of all items. Higher scores mean worse outcome.
Treatment motivation Once weekly before the VR session, resulting in 3 assessments Treatment motivation will be measured with four self-developed items. Each item is rated on a 1-5 Likert scale. The outcome measure is the sum score divided by the number of items. Higher scores mean better outcome.
Trial Locations
- Locations (5)
GGZ Delfland
🇳🇱Den Haag, Haaglanden, Netherlands
iMindU Practice for Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry
🇳🇱Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands
LEVVEL
🇳🇱Amsterdam, Netherlands
Kenter Jeugdhulp
🇳🇱Haarlem, Netherlands
LUMC Curium
🇳🇱Oegstgeest, Netherlands