Multi-dimensional Investigations of Negative Emotions and Drug-resistant Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Psychosis

NCT03449407 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Mood&AVH
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 47
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are commonly reported as source of distress, disability and mortality in schizophrenia. Despite proven efficacy of antipsychotics, many patients still experience drug-refractory AVH. It has been postulated that AVH is maintained by negative emotions. Yet, little is known about the temporal relationship and underlying mechanisms between negative affect and AVH. Utilizing both an ecologically-validated method and brain imaging technique, this study aims to uncover the role of emotions in the maintenance of psychotic symptoms.

Conditions

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Hallucinations, Auditory

Keywords

Auditory hallucinations; Psychosis; Mood; Brain imaging; Experience sampling method

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Psychotic symptomatology as measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Scale of Assessment for Positive Symptoms (SAPS), and the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS)

  Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is an interview-based assessment of the severity of symptoms associated with schizophrenia, including positive, negative, and general psychopathology. Scale of Assessment for Positive Symptoms (SAPS) is an interview-based scale of positive symptoms of schizophrenia. SAPS consists of four areas: hallucinations, delusions, bizarre behaviour and positive formal thought disorder. Each area includes ratings of specific symptoms and a global rating. The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS) is a 17-item semi-structured interview measuring the severity of multiple dimensions of auditory hallucinations and delusions, including conviction and duration.

  Baseline

• Depressive symptomatology as measured by Calgary Depression Scale (CDS)

  Calgary Depression Scale (CDS) is a nine-item structured interview scale that assesses depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

  Baseline

• Beliefs about voices as measured by Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire - Revised (BAVQ-R)

  BAVQ-R is a self-report questionnaire that consists of three subscales pertaining to beliefs about voices: malevolence (i.e. voices as evil and persecutory), benevolence (i.e. voices as helpful), and omnipotence (i.e. voices as controlling and powerful).

  Baseline

• Anxiety severity as measured by Beck anxiety inventory (BAI)

  BAI is a self-report questionnaire that measures anxiety severity and unique symptom features that are independent of that in depression, including somatic symptoms and subjective experience of panic and anxiety.

  1 week

• Mood states as measured by Visual analogue scale (VAS)

  A simple visual analogue scale assessing state depression, state anxiety and state happiness will be conducted.

  1 week

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Cognitive capacity as measured by the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - IV (HK) short form (WAIS-IV)

  Baseline

• Handedness as measured by Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI)

  Baseline

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients, including in-patients, out-patients and day hospital patients, will be recruited from psychiatric units of multiple hospital sites.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 to 65 years
• Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder
• Present hallucinations

You may not qualify if:

• Left-handedness
• Intellectual disability
• Organic psychosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chinese University of Hong Kong: lead

Study Sites (1)

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Hallucinations; Psychotic Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Perceptual Disorders; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2018
• First Posted: February 28, 2018
• Study Start: January 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2019
• Study Completion: December 31, 2019
• Last Updated: January 23, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

HK (1)