Using Illusions to Boost Social Cognition

NCT07602712 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-A02057-42
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to explore whether the observation of complex visual objects can help improve social cognition in people living with psychotic disorders. Social cognition refers to the ability to understand what others think, feel, or intend, and plays a key role in social relationships and daily interactions. Main questions this study aims to answer:

• Does dyadic exposure to complex visual objects improve mental state attribution, as measured by the Faux Pas Test?
• Does the intervention enhance related domains of social cognition, including implicit intention inference (Hinting Task), interpretation of complex interactions (Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition, MASC), and reduction of hostile attribution biases (Ambiguous Intentions Hostility Questionnaire, AIHQ)?
• Are improvements maintained after one month, and do patients who receive the intervention later (waitlist group) show the same benefits once exposed?

Conditions

Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders; Social Cognition

Keywords

Schizophrenia; Psychosis; Social Cognition; Mentalizing; Theory of Mind; Cognitive Remediation; Metacognition; Perspective-Taking; Visual Illusions; Viewpoint Illusions; Bottom-Up Intervention; Sensorimotor Rehabilitation; Faux Pas Test; Hinting Task; Social Interaction; Rehabilitation in Psychosis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• "Faux Pas" test total score

  1. Total of correctly recognised "Faux Pas" Score range : 0 - 30 Minimum (0) : no correct detection of faux pas Maximum (30) : all faux pas correctly detected 2. Total of identified absence of "Faux Pas" Score range : 0 - 10 Minimum (0) : incorrectly identifies absence of faux pas Maximum (10) : correctly identifies absence of faux pas 3. Total score of control question comprehension Score range : 0 - 20 Minimum (0) : poor comprehension Maximum (20) : Full comprehension

  Change from pre to post intervention (up to 3 hours)

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Hinting Task

  Change from pre to post intervention (up to 3 hours)

• MASC performance

  Change from pre intervention to follow-up session (up to a month and a half)

Study Arms (2)

Immediate intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive the visual-perception session shortly after baseline assessment. They complete neurocognitive and social cognition tests before exposure, immediately after, and again at one-month follow-up.

Behavioral: Visual-illusion social cognition session (immediate)

Delayed Intervention (Wait-list Control)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants complete the same assessments as Arm 1 but receive the intervention only after a waiting period. This arm allows comparison between natural progression and workshop effects prior to exposure.

Behavioral: Visual-illusion social cognition session (delayed)

Interventions

Visual-illusion social cognition session (immediate) BEHAVIORAL

A guided session of approximately 45 minutes. The core rehabilitation tool consists of multiple-perspective illusion boxes. Each participant stands on one side of the box and perceives a different shape than their partner. The session unfolds in 3 structured phases: 1. For each illusion : Participants observe objects silently and draw what they see. 2. Perspective confrontation + Card selection: Drawings and interpretation cards are exchanged and discussed. 3. Perspective switching : Participants swap positions to reveal the alternative visual interpretation. The session is followed by a short structured discussion with a psychologist focused on perspective-taking and interpretation of social cues.

Immediate intervention

Visual-illusion social cognition session (delayed) BEHAVIORAL

A guided session of approximately 45 minutes. The core rehabilitation tool consists of multiple-perspective illusion boxes. Each participant stands on one side of the box and perceives a different shape than their partner. The session unfolds in 3 structured phases: 1. For each illusion : Participants observe objects silently and draw what they see. 2. Perspective confrontation + Card selection: Drawings and interpretation cards are exchanged and discussed. 3. Perspective switching : Participants swap positions to reveal the alternative visual interpretation. The session is followed by a short structured discussion with a psychologist focused on perspective-taking and interpretation of social cues. Delivered after a delay following baseline assessment.

Delayed Intervention (Wait-list Control)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18 to 40 years
• Fluent French speaker
• Has provided written informed consent
• Established diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, or brief psychotic disorder according to theDiagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5-TR) criteria
• Presence of social cognition impairment, defined by:subjective complaint reported by the participant or identified by care teams regarding difficulties in social interaction and clinical confirmation of observable difficulties (e.g., social withdrawal, misinterpretation of others' intentions, inappropriate social behaviour)
• Membership or entitlement to a social security plan

You may not qualify if:

• Clinical state incompatible with participation in group-based activities (e.g., severe psychomotor agitation, severe behavioural disturbance)
• Concurrent participation in another social cognition remediation program
• Diagnosis of intellectual disability
• Insufficient comprehension of French for verbal interaction and test completion
• Significant change in psychotropic medication within the past month
• Uncorrectable visual impairment preventing participation
• Pregnant women
• Individuals under full guardianship (tutorship)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hôpital le Vinatier: lead
• INSERM 1028: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

CH Le Vinatier

Bron, 69678, France

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia; Psychotic Disorders; Illusions

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Central Study Contacts

Joy El KHOURY

CONTACT

+330437915534; joy.el-khoury@inserm.fr

Méline Devaluez, PhD

CONTACT

meline.devaluez@ch-le-vinatier.fr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Two groups will take part: one completing the workshop shortly after inclusion, and one completing it after a delay, allowing comparison over time.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 12, 2026
• First Posted: May 22, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2029
• Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP
• Time Frame: IPD available after publication of primary results
• Access Criteria: Requests must be made by qualified researchers for scientific purposes. Data will be shared under controlled access agreement ensuring privacy and ethical standards.

Locations

FR (1)