Mental DisorderNCT05982548
The Use of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Stigma, Empathy and Attitudes Towards People With Psychotic Disorders
A study testing VR intervention in people with Mental Disorder, run by Institute of Mental Health, Singapore at 1 site in Singapore.
Trial 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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 99 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mental Disorder
- What is being tested?
- VR intervention
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 180 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSingapore
- Study dates
- 1 Aug 2023to 17 Jul 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 99 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 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.
Who cannot join
- unable to use virtual reality interventions due to reasons including motion sickness, disorientation, nausea and vomiting.
- history of epilepsy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Singapore1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Institute of Mental Health
Singapore, 539747
Jing Ling Tay, PhD, 6389 ext. 2337, jing_ling_tay@imh.com.sg
About this study
Official title: The Use of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Stigma, Empathy and Attitudes Towards People With Psychotic Disorders Among Mental Healthcare Professionals
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
- Being tested
- VR intervention, VR control intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Mental Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
VR interventionOther
VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes
Participants viewed the home as a first person character and experience psychotic phenomena including auditory hallucinations.
VR control interventionOther
VR intervention of no more than 7 minutes
Participants viewed the same home as a first person character without psychotic phenomena
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Receives: 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. Receives: Other: VR control intervention |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: 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.
Measured: 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).
Measured: 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.
Measured: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
Secondary outcomes (3)
Demographic data
occupation, gender, marital status, ethnic groups, age, years of service
Measured: 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'
Measured: 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).
Measured: immediately after the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Aug 2023
- Study start1 Aug 2023
- Primary completion17 Jul 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion17 Jul 2024 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mental DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tay Jing Ling, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05982548
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023/00027
- Other IDs
- 2023
- Status last verified
- Oct 2023
- First submitted
- 24 Jul 2023
- Last updated
- 11 Oct 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
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.
PubMed 39836956
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 11 Oct 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Use of a Virtual Reality Intervention on Stigma, Empathy and Attitudes Towards People With Psychotic Disorders Among Mental Healthcare Professionals
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05982548
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2023/00027
- Conditions
- Mental Disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 180 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Institute of Mental Health, SingaporeUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 17 Jul 2024 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 17 Jul 2024 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Aug 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Other: VR interventionThe 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. |
| VR control group | Active comparator | Other: VR control interventionThe VR control group will view the scenario of the same home without the simulated visual and auditory hallucinations. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- 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.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- unable to use virtual reality interventions due to reasons including motion sickness, disorientation, nausea and vomiting.
- history of epilepsy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| VR interventionVR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the home as a first person character and experience psychotic phenomena including auditory hallucinations. | Other | Intervention group |
| VR control interventionVR intervention of no more than 7 minutes Participants viewed the same home as a first person character without psychotic phenomena | Other | VR control group |
Primary outcome
Desire for Social Distance
Time frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
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.
Personal Stigma
Time frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
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.
Empathy
Time frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
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).
Attitudes towards those experiencing mental disorders
Time frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention
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.
3 secondary outcomes
Demographic data
Time frame: pre-intervention
Acceptability of the intervention
Time frame: immediately after the intervention
Safety of VR intervention
Time frame: immediately after the intervention
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 11 Oct 2023.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39836956Tay 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.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing VR intervention in people with Mental Disorder, run by Institute of Mental Health, Singapore at 1 site in Singapore.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 11 Oct 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Singapore. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Desire for Social Distance (time frame: pre-intervention, immediately after the intervention, follow-up at 1 month after intervention). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05982548, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 11 Oct 2023.