Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT06175559

Embedded Narrative in Interactive Game Design for Improving Medication Adherence of Schizophrenia

This study explores the potential of an interactive narrative game to enhance medication adherence among stable schizophrenia patients. Employing participatory design methods, game's development and testing process actively involved patients and individuals closely connected to their daily lives. Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC) facilitated swift iterations in game's visual style and content. During game therapy, patients are tasked with making decisions based on presented situations, which influence the course of the narrative.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Behavior Gamification Health Behavior Medication Adherence Mental Disorders Mental Health Issue Patient Acceptance of Health Care Patient Compliance Schizophrenia Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Treatment Adherence and Compliance

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200240, China

About this study

Our game design is inspired by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), specifically the autonomic engagement and emotion regulation for the treatment of stable schizophrenic patients. This design aims to motivate patients to practice the basic principles of CBT in a virtual environment with the aim of producing positive psychological and behavioral changes in real life.

To ensure that the interactive design in the game can effectively promote cognitive reconstruction and emotional regulation in patients, the investigators used the following game interaction strategies:

  • Situational simulation: By simulating real-life situations, patients face challenges and make decisions in the game that are similar to those in real life, so as to train their cognitive and emotional regulation.
  • Immediate feedback: Provide patients with immediate feedback during the game so that they can understand the impact of their decisions on the outcome of the game, thus encouraging them to make more positive decisions in real life.
  • Role-imitation: Encourage patients to take an in-depth look at their thoughts and behaviors from a third-person perspective by having them take on the role of a therapy practitioner.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Stable Phase Schizophrenia
  • on long-term medication
  • medication adherence was problematic

Exclusion criteria

  • Serious Schizophrenia
  • Lack of basic cognitive abilities

Treatment and study plan

Healing Town: Embedded Narrative in Interactive Game (Psycho-education Tool) Design

Combination Product

The narrative-based medication intervention game "Healing Town" in this study employed a multidisciplinary participatory design approach rooted in narrative theory and behavioral psychology models. The game consists of two perspectives: narrative decision stories and cognitive games. The investigators initially employed participatory design methods to determine the plot and elements within the game, then embedded the conclusions into the therapeutic elements of the game

Primary outcomes

  1. Medication Adherence

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Medication Adherence - Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8): This scale assesses medication adherence through 8 items, providing a comprehensive evaluation of adherence.

  2. Medication Attitude

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Medication Attitude - Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI) : This scale evaluates patients' attitudes toward medication, with higher scores indicating better attitudes.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Game Experience

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    the In-Game Core Scale (iGEQ): a standardized tool used to measure a player's experience while playing a video game. It was developed by researchers to understand how players feel during gameplay, based on psychological and emotional factors.

  2. Anxiety

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Anxiety - Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) : This scale measures the level of anxiety in individuals, categorizing the severity into mild, moderate, and severe levels.

  3. Depression

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Depression - Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9): This scale assesses the severity of depressive symptoms, categorizing the level of depression from mild to severe.

  4. Patients' Quality of Life

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) : This scale evaluates overall quality of life and health status, with a focus on physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains.

  5. Social Functioning

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Social Disability Screening Schedule (SDSS): This scale assesses the degree of social disability, with higher scores indicating more severe social dysfunction.

  6. Clinical Symptoms

    Time frame: 10 minutes

    Clinical Symptoms - Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS): This scale evaluates clinical symptoms across five factors, including anxiety-depression, lack of vitality, thought disturbances, activation, and hostile suspicion.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Zhu Dian

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Embedded Narrative in Interactive Game Design for Improving Medication Adherence of Schizophrenia：Exploratory Research

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 19, 2023
Registry last updated
Apr 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.