Delusion Ideation in the Context of Everyday Life

Launched by CHARITE UNIVERSITY, BERLIN, GERMANY · Jan 4, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help people with schizophrenia who experience distressing thoughts and feelings, known as delusions. The study combines in-person therapy sessions with smartphone support, making it easier for participants to manage their symptoms in their everyday lives. Participants will attend four therapy sessions in person and use a smartphone app to track their experiences and receive additional support between those sessions. Researchers want to see if this method is acceptable and helpful for those involved.

To be eligible for the trial, participants need to be between 18 and 65 years old and diagnosed with schizophrenia. They should be experiencing distressing delusions and must be able to understand German. It's also important that they are comfortable using a smartphone or willing to learn. Participants should have the time to attend the therapy sessions and follow-up assessments. However, those with severe vision problems, urgent suicidal thoughts, or very high levels of delusional symptoms are not eligible for this study. Overall, this trial aims to provide a supportive and innovative approach to managing distressing thoughts for individuals living with schizophrenia.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. be between 18 and 65 years old
• • 2. fulfill the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia as determined by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) (Sheehan et al., 1998)
• • 3. suffer from residual delusions and significant self-reported distress as assessed by the PSYRATS Delusions (Haddock et al., 1999), Green Paranoid Thoughts, and Subjective Experiences of Psychosis Scales (Freeman et al., 2021).
• • 4. sufficient knowledge of German
• • 5. have not undergone a recent (\<6 weeks) or planned change in antipsychotic and other psychopharmacological medication
• • 6. know how to use a smartphone or be willing to learn how to use it
• • 7. Time availability to attend 4 therapy appointments with two additional rating appointments
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 8. Severe visual impairment
• • 9. Acute suicidal tendencies
• • 10. Excessive delusional symptoms (Reference: 25+; Persecution: 28+ in the Green Paranoid Thoughts and Subjective Experiences of Psychosis Scales (Freeman et al., 2021)