Avatar Therapy for Depression

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Disqualifiers: Current SUD, Neurological disorders, Severe illness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 13

Duration: 10 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests Avatar Therapy to determine its effectiveness for individuals with major depression who haven't improved with other treatments. The therapy uses virtual reality to create avatars (digital characters) that assist patients in developing strategies to enhance their mood and social life. Participants will attend weekly sessions over 10 weeks. This trial may suit those with persistent depression despite trying at least two different medications. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative therapy options that could enhance the mental health journey.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the Avatar Therapy trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that Avatar Therapy is safe for treating depression?

Research has shown that Avatar Therapy is generally easy for people to handle. One study found it helped individuals with schizophrenia by making the voices they hear less upsetting. Participants felt better after interacting with avatars and experienced fewer severe symptoms. Another study found that this therapy also reduced symptom severity in those with psychosis.

The therapy involves talking to a virtual person, or avatar, to help manage symptoms. People have reported feeling more in control and gaining a better understanding of their symptoms after these sessions. No serious side effects were noted in these studies. Overall, Avatar Therapy appears to be a safe option for improving mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike standard treatments for depression, which often include medications and traditional talk therapy, Avatar Therapy uses virtual reality and avatars to address mental health issues. This innovative approach allows individuals to engage in a simulated environment where they can safely explore and develop strategies to improve their mood and social functioning. Researchers are excited about this therapy because it offers a unique, immersive experience that could help individuals reduce cravings related to cannabis use while simultaneously addressing depressive symptoms. By providing a novel way to interact with therapeutic content, Avatar Therapy has the potential to enhance engagement and effectiveness compared to conventional methods.

What evidence suggests that Avatar Therapy might be an effective treatment for depression?

Research has shown that Avatar Therapy, which participants in this trial will receive, can help individuals with major depression that hasn't improved with other treatments. In some studies, more than half of the participants experienced relief, with reduced anxiety and fewer other symptoms. Another study found that this therapy reduced the intensity of distressing voices, which often accompany depression and other mental health issues. The therapy uses virtual reality avatars to help change negative thoughts and boost mood. While more research is needed, early results are promising for those who haven't found relief with other treatments. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Stéphane Potvin, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Montreal, Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal

Alexandre Dumais, Md, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Montreal, Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with major depression who haven't gotten better after trying at least two different medications. They must be able to understand and agree to the study's requirements but can't join if they have a drug problem, neurological issues, serious physical illness, or can't consent.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18 and have major depression that hasn't improved after trying two or more medications.

Exclusion Criteria

Current substance use disorder

I have a neurological disorder.

I have a severe and unstable illness.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in Avatar Therapy sessions using virtual reality to address treatment-resistant major depressive disorder

10 weeks

10 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 months

Follow-ups at 3, 6, and 12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Avatar Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests Avatar Therapy in virtual reality as a new way to help people with tough-to-treat depression. It's an early-stage trial to see if this innovative approach could improve depressive symptoms when usual treatments don’t work.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Avatar Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Avatar Intervention will take place over 10 consecutive weeks, with one session per week. Each session will last approximately 60 minutes. The goal of the intervention will be to help you reduce cravings related to your cannabis use with the use of virtual reality and avatars. The goal of the therapy is to develop strategies to improve mood and promote the fulfillment of social functioning.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Ciusss de L'Est de l'Île de Montréal

Lead Sponsor

Trials

81

Recruited

6,400+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07112261

Avatar Therapy in Virtual Reality for Treatment-Resistant ... ... efficacy of Avatar therapy for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder. Detailed Description ... The primary outcomes was severity of ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03252-8

Digital AVATAR therapy for distressing voices in psychosis The primary outcome was voice-related distress at both time points, while voice severity and voice frequency were key secondary outcomes. Voice- ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8319718/

Computer-Assisted Avatar-Based Treatment for ... We developed a computer-assisted, avatar-based adjunct for cognitive therapy that aims to reduce dysfunctional beliefs and symptom severity.

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2079-9292/10/18/2212

Could Avatar Therapy Enhance Mental Health in Chronic ... The results reveal that over half of the studies (61.1%) were effective [3,6,43,45,46,47,48,50,51,53,54], achieving reductions in the anxiety [46,47,54,56] ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824003986

Exploring the acceptability, and feasibility of a modified ... The findings indicate a decrease in the severity of AVHs, along with enhancements in overall symptomatology after modified AVATAR therapy sessions. Moreover, ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12007037/

AVATAR Virtual Reality Social therapy (AVATAR_VRSocial ... This study showed a post-therapy effect size of d=0.8 of AVATAR therapy on the primary outcome (total score on the Psychotic Symptom Rating ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7387758/

Avatar Therapy for people with schizophrenia or related ... A measure of insight (Revised Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire; BAVQ‐R) showed an effect in favour of Avatar Therapy (MD –5.97, 95% CI –10.98 to –0.96; ...