Hearing critical and hostile voices in our heads is a reality for many of us. But for people with schizophrenia or other mental disorders, these persistent hallucinations can be distressing and life-threatening.
New Swinburne research will test a promising new approach to reconstructing these voices into digital avatars using virtual reality technology, allowing them to be used in therapy sessions to help respond respond and eventually correct them.
Avatar software uses voice modulation and 3D animation to provide over 1 million voice permutations and over 1 billion face permutations.
The world’s first projects funded by the NHMRC $1.7 million are being led by Associate Professor Neil Thomas from Swinburne University of Technology, who says the research will help establish a new treatment. powerful for one of Australia’s most disadvantaged patient groups.
“Current drug and therapeutic approaches for these persistent voice-hearing experiences have had only modest impact, while this digitally-assisted approach has helped to reduce the severity of the biggest hallucination to date,” said Associate Professor Thomas.
“These clinical trials are an important next step in delivering better outcomes for people living with hallucinations in an area where alternative approaches are needed.”
Develop a technology solution
The trial will work to determine whether avatar therapy using VR is superior to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is the standard psychotherapeutic approach.
Avatar software uses voice modulation and 3D animation software to recreate the auditory and visual characteristics of the dominant ‘voice’ heard by the person, providing over 1 million voice permutations speaking and over 1 billion permutations on faces.
The therapy can be delivered using a range of leading video conferencing platforms and will be trialled via telehealth, helping to improve accessibility for people with mental disorders.
Vice-Chancellor, Research Division, Professor Karen Hapgood congratulated the Swinburne researchers on their innovative technology-based approach.
“Building on Swinburne’s strengths in medical technology and supported by the NHMRC, we are proud to lead this world’s first trial that can dramatically improve the lives of people with the disorder.” psychiatry,” said Professor Hapgood.
“This research truly demonstrates how technology and people working together can make a meaningful difference in our daily lives and confirms Swinburne’s focus on developing solutions. technology for real-world problems,” says Professor Hapgood.
The source: Swinburne University of Technology
