The Use of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Stigma, Empathy and Attitudes Towards People With Psychotic Disorders

Mental Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Use of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Stigma, Empathy and Attitudes Towards People With Psychotic Disorders Among Mental Healthcare Professionals

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05982548
• Other study ID #: 2023/00027
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 1, 2023
• Est. completion date: July 17, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: October 2023
• Source: Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a VR intervention on (1) stigma, (2) empathy and (3) attitudes towards those experiencing mental disorders.

Participants will review a VR intervention, and complete questionnaires at pre-test, post-test and one month follow-up.

Researchers will compare the VR intervention with a control VR intervention to evaluate the varying effects on stigma, empathy and attitudes towards those experiencing mental disorders.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 180
• Est. completion date: July 17, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: July 17, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 21 Years to 99 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants who are aged at least 21 years old

• Employed by the Institute of Mental Health as a physician, allied health professional or nurse.

• understands English

• work directly with patients.

Exclusion Criteria:

• unable to use virtual reality interventions due to reasons including motion sickness, disorientation, nausea and vomiting.

• history of epilepsy

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Mental Disorder
• Mental Disorders
• Psychotic Disorders

Intervention

Other:
• VR intervention
VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the home as a first person character and experience psychotic phenomena including auditory hallucinations.
• VR control intervention
VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the same home as a first person character without psychotic phenomena

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Singapore	Institute of Mental Health	Singapore

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Institute of Mental Health, Singapore

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Singapore, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Desire for Social Distance	Desire for Social Distance Scale; The eight questions are rated on a four-point Likert scale: yes, definitely (0), yes, probably (1), probably not (2) and definitely not (3) with greater scores implying greater desire for social distancing.	pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
Primary	Personal Stigma	Personal Stigma Scale Personal Stigma Scale consisted of two subscales: 'Personal unpredictable/ dangerousness' and 'Personal weak not sick' The questions were calculated as 'strongly agree' (4) to 'strongly disagree' (0), with greater scores implying greater stigmatizing attitudes.	pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
Primary	Empathy	Empathetic concern sub-scale of Interpersonal Reactivity Index The 7-item sub-scale is measured on a five point likert scale ranging from 'does not describe me well' (0) to 'describes me very well' (4).	pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
Primary	Attitudes towards those experiencing mental disorders	modified Attitudes Towards People with Schizophrenia scale The 7-item scale is measured on a nine point likert scale ranging from (1) to (9). Greater scores equate better attitude towards people with schizophrenia.	pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
Secondary	Demographic data	occupation, gender, marital status, ethnic groups, age, years of service	pre-intervention
Secondary	Acceptability of the intervention	Authors constructed questionnaire to assess for acceptability of intervention. A total of 10 questions consisting of 6 multiple choice questions ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree on a 7-point likert scale. An example of one question is, 'I find the intervention engaging'.; It also consists of 4 open ended questions. Example of one question is, 'Please list the strength of the intervention'	immediately after the intervention
Secondary	Safety of VR intervention	Visually induced motion sickness susceptibility questionnaire: It consists of six questions that evaluates presence of adverse effects from using the VR intervention from 'never' (0) to 'often' (3).	immediately after the intervention