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

NCT05982548 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: 2023/00027
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 180
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief 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.

Conditions

Mental Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 Outcomes (3)

• Demographic data

  pre-intervention

• Acceptability of the intervention

  immediately after the intervention

• Safety of VR intervention

  immediately after the intervention

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The VR intervention was created using the Unreal Engine software (Unreal Engine, 2022). The VR intervention includes the scenario of a home. Participants will view the home as a first person character and experience psychotic phenomena including auditory hallucinations. The intervention will be delivered in one setting and lasts no more than seven minutes. It will be disseminated using smartphone inserted into VR headset equivalent of google cardboard.

Other: VR intervention

VR control group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The VR control group will view the scenario of the same home without the simulated visual and auditory hallucinations.

Other: VR control intervention

Interventions

VR intervention OTHER

VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the home as a first person character and experience psychotic phenomena including auditory hallucinations.

Intervention group

VR control intervention OTHER

VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the same home as a first person character without psychotic phenomena

VR control group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Institute of Mental Health, Singapore: lead

Study Sites (1)

Institute of Mental Health

Singapore, 539747, Singapore

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Tay JL, Qu Y, Lim L, Puthran R, Tan CLR, Rajendran R, Wei KC, Xie H, Sim K. Impact of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Stigma, Empathy, and Attitudes Toward Patients With Psychotic Disorders Among Mental Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health. 2025 Jan 21;12:e66925. doi: 10.2196/66925.

  PMID: 39836956 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Advanced Practice Nurse

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 24, 2023
• First Posted: August 8, 2023
• Study Start: August 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 17, 2024
• Study Completion: July 17, 2024
• Last Updated: October 11, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SG (1)