CompletedNot Applicable

Non-Immersive Virtual Environments for the Treatment of Hoarding Disorder

Italy80 participantsStarted 2024-01-24

Plain-language summary

This experimental trial investigates whether Virtual Reality Exposure (VRe) helps individuals reduce the difficulty of discarding personal possessions. It will also evaluate the psychological state impacts of the intervention. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does exposure-based intervention (VRe) reduce emotional distress and improve willingness to discard personal items? What psychological reactions (such as anxiety or emotional responses) do participants experience during and after these interventions?

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Adults individuals from general population. Exclusion Criteria: * A score of 4 or higher on the self-report item of the Hoarding Rating Scale Self-Report, which assesses difficulty in discarding possessions; * No evident signs of suicidal ideation, based on the scores of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, nor indications of alcohol or substance abuse, psychotic spectrum disorders, depressive disorders, organic mental disorders, or conditions associated with cognitive impairment; * Participants must report difficulty in discarding certain objects. Moreover, individuals have to complete online monitoring questionnaires via PC or smartphone. * Participants had to fill out a custom questionnaire evaluating each object based on two parameters: importance and difficulty in discarding.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in State Anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Y)- State subscale

Timeframe: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and Post-intervention (immediately after completion of the single experimental session).

Change in Positive and Negative Affect as measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

Timeframe: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and Post-intervention (immediately after completion of the single experimental session).

Frequency of Discarding Behavior (Behavioral Observation)

Timeframe: During the single experimental session (immediately after intervention).

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07160543

SponsorUniversity of Padova

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-10-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Hoarding Disorder trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Change in State Anxiety as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Y)- State subscale

Timeframe: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and Post-intervention (immediately after completion of the single experimental session).

Change in Positive and Negative Affect as measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

Timeframe: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) and Post-intervention (immediately after completion of the single experimental session).

Frequency of Discarding Behavior (Behavioral Observation)

Timeframe: During the single experimental session (immediately after intervention).