NCT06563752

Exploring the Effectiveness of Digital Anti-stigma Therapy on Illness Perception and Perceived Stigma in Patients With Schizophrenia and Their Primary Caregivers

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 360 (estimated)
• Sponsor: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to investigate the relationship between illness insight, self-stigma in patients with schizophrenia, and the awareness and associated stigma experienced by their families, as well as the predictors of these factors. The study will use information technology strategies for educational purposes, specifically employing 3D glasses for delivering this education. The goal is to develop a disease adaptation program that involves both patients and their families, helping to enhance disease awareness and improve stigma experiences.

Detailed description

* Background:\*\* Research has confirmed that family members of patients with schizophrenia often lack awareness of the illness and are affected by stigma, leading them to be reluctant to seek help. This reluctance impacts patients' medication adherence, increases the severity of the illness, and results in recurrent episodes and deteriorating social functioning. In Chinese societies, where maintaining face is important, the caregiving burden on families and associated stigma are even more pronounced. In Taiwan, there is a lack of interventions using virtual reality for family members. * Objective:\*\* To evaluate the effectiveness of a digital anti-stigma therapy in improving illness awareness and reducing associated stigma among patients with schizophrenia and their family members. * Methods:\*\* This pioneering study employs a randomized controlled trial design, involving 180 patients with schizophrenia and their family members from psychiatric medical institutions in northern Taiwan. Participants are randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving standard care and the other receiving standard care plus VR video intervention. Research tools include questionnaires on illness awareness (family and patient versions), internalized stigma scales, and family-associated internalized stigma scales. Data collection occurs at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and three months later. The t-test and χ2 test are used to assess group homogeneity, and generalized estimating equations are applied to explore the effectiveness of the intervention after controlling for basic attributes. * Expected Results/Clinical Application:\*\* The experimental group is anticipated to show significantly greater improvement in outcome measures compared to the control group. Implementing this intervention clinically could enhance family members' awareness of the illness and improve their experience of stigma, thereby supporting patients in adapting to their illness and stabilizing their community living.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Participants will use 3D glasses to view VR educational information	Participants will use 3D glasses to view VR educational information, which includes: 1. Understanding of psychiatric symptoms, including symptoms, disease course, treatment, and prognosis. 2. Knowledge about medications, their relationship with symptom stabilization, and handling of side effects. 3. Schizophrenia as a chronic illness, with analogies to other chronic diseases. 4. Signs of disease relapse. 5. How to manage ongoing psychiatric symptoms of schizophrenia, including delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and negative symptoms. 6. Strategies for interacting and communicating with patients. 7. Stress management and adjustment, as well as suicide prevention. 8. Available resources.
OTHER	routine care	Before discharge, provide routine discharge preparation instructions and offer a disease education booklet with relevant health information. Follow up with two phone calls after discharge, on the 7th and 30th days.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-10-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-01
• Completion: 2027-12-01
• First posted: 2024-08-21
• Last updated: 2024-08-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan