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

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

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

Conditions
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Mental Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: VR intervention
* Other: VR control intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 21 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention group<br>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<br>* VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the home as a first person character and experience psychotic phenomena including auditory hallucinations.<br>|
| Active Comparator: VR control group<br>The VR control group will view the scenario of the same home without the simulated visual and auditory hallucinations. | Other: VR control intervention<br>* VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the same home as a first person character without psychotic phenomena<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Demographic data | occupation, gender, marital status, ethnic groups, age, years of service | pre-intervention | 
| 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 | 
| 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 |