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Optimising AVATAR therapy for distressing voices

Phase 2
Conditions
People with schizophrenia spectrum disorder or affective disorder with psychotic symptoms who have been experiencing distressing voices for longer than 6 months.
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Schizophrenia spectrum disorder or affective disorder with psychotic symptoms
Registration Number
ISRCTN55682735
Lead Sponsor
King's College London
Brief Summary

2021 Protocol article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34034792/ (added 27/05/2021)

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
Ongoing
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
345
Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged 18+ years
2. Currently under the care of a specialist mental health team (inpatient and outpatient settings)
3. Have current frequent and distressing voices, (as measured by a score of at least 2 on the sum of the intensity of distress and frequency items of the PSYRATS (Voices) scale), persisting for at least 6 months and in a language spoken by the therapist
4. Speak and read English to a sufficient level to provide consent and complete the assessment procedures
5. A clinical diagnosis of Schizophrenia spectrum disorder (ICD10 F20-29) or affective disorder with psychotic symptoms (ICD-10 F30–39, subcategories with psychotic symptoms)- as determined by clinical records

Exclusion Criteria

1. Primary diagnosis of substance disorder, personality disorder or learning disability
2. Lacking capacity to consent
3. Profound visual/hearing impairment or insufficient comprehension of English to be able to engage in assessment or therapy
4. Currently undertaking individual psychological therapy for voices
5. Currently experiencing an acute mental health crisis

Study & Design

Study Type
Interventional
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Distress associated with voices as measured by the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale- Auditory Hallucinations at 16 and 28 weeks
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
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