Computerized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Auditory Hallucinations

March 3, 2017 updated by: Jennifer Gottlieb, Boston University Charles River Campus

Randomized Controlled Trial of Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Auditory Hallucinations in Persons With Psychosis

This is a randomized controlled trial, examining the effects of a computerized, internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Intervention for persons with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder who experience distressing auditory hallucinations (voices). Participants are randomized to one of two conditions: either to receive the 10-session computer-based program on a weekly basis, or to their usual care at their mental health clinic. This study takes place at Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge Massachusetts. It is hypothesized that the participants who participate in the CBT program will have significant improvements in the severity of their auditory hallucinations, as well as their associated distress, compared to the participants receiving usual care.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

45

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Massachusetts
      • Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02139
        • Cambridge Health Alliance

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants will be on a stable dose of antipsychotic medication for the past 3 months.

    • Schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, and psychosis, not otherwise specified.
    • At least moderate severity on Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) hallucinations item.
    • Naïve to CBTp for Auditory Hallucinations within the past 3 years.
    • No current suicidal ideation or hospitalization within the past month.
    • Reading level of at least 4th grade, as measured by the reading section of the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT)
    • Current patient receiving care at Cambridge Health Alliance

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Terminal physical illness expected to result in the death of the study participant within one year.

    • Primary diagnosis of dementia or a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder secondary to a medical condition.
    • Comorbid dementia (severe cognitive impairment) as indicated by a Mini-mental state examination score <24.
    • Current active substance abuse or dependence with the need for specialized substance abuse services
    • Does not speak English
    • Does not achieve a 4th grade reading level as demonstrated on the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT)
    • Has a legal guardian

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Usual Care
Experimental: Computer CBT
A 10-session computerized cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
Time Frame: Baseline, Post-Treatment, 3-Month Follow-up
Primary outcome is change in BPRS hallucinations item from baseline to post-treatment to 3 month follow-up. This measure assesses severity of auditory hallucinations as well as overall psychiatric symptoms
Baseline, Post-Treatment, 3-Month Follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jennifer D Gottlieb, PhD, Boston University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 13, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 15, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

July 17, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 6, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 3, 2017

Last Verified

July 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ComputerCBTPsychosis

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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