Cognitive Rehabilitation With Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) in Schizophrenia: a Pilot Randomized Waiting List Controlled Feasibility Study (IVR SCZ)

Azienda Sanitaria Locale Napoli 3 Sud, UOCSM Torre del Greco

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Schizoaffective Disorder

SCHIZOPHRENIA 1 (Disorder)

Treatments

Other: Waiting List

Device: CEREBRUM VR

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT07427485

29475 - 02/03/2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

Virtual reality-based rehabilitation has recently gained increasing attention in the field of cognitive rehabilitation, allowing patients to engage in simulated real-life scenarios within a safe and controlled setting. The feasibility and safety of immersive VR-based cognitive rehabilitation in individuals with schizophrenia is currently insufficiently explored. This study seeks to evaluate whether immersive immersive virtual reality-based rehabilitation can be safely and practically implemented in a community psychiatric setting. The study also aims to explore preliminary effects on negative symptoms, cognitive performance, and global functioning compared with treatment as usual in a waiting-list control group.

Enrollment

40 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 67 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Individuals with Schizophrenia/Schizoaffective Disorder (DSM-5-TR)
Age 18-67 years
Chronic phase of illness
Able to provide a valid informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Recent substance use (less than six months)
Concomitant intellectual disability or neurological disorders (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders, Parkison's disease, brain cancer) that may impair the ability to undergo cognitive rehabilitation
With a recent (less than six weeks from the enrolling date) symptom exacerbation, hospitalization or change in pharmacotherapy
Acute phase of illness