The goal of this RCT is to evaluate the effects of a virtual reality intervention on self-efficacy regarding alcohol and cannabis use among at-risk youth in various residential mental health treatment centers who have co-occurring disorders and are under the care of the association where they receive treatment. The main question it aims to answer is:
• Does the VR intervention enhance the therapeutic effect of residential treatment on self-efficacy regarding alcohol and cannabis use? If there is a comparison group: Researchers will compare the intervention with the usual care (UC) that minors receive at the centers for the treatment of dual diagnosis to see if VR adds value to this treatment.
Participants will be randomly assigned to each condition and will be evaluated before and after one month. In the experimental group, participants will receive a treatment session using VR software, during which they will undergo training in the following modules: The first phase is an assessment phase, during which objective measures are determined for 1) emotional recognition, 2) avoidance/approach toward related stimuli, 3) degree of compliance with social pressure, and 4) craving in the presence of the drug, exposure to cues, and/or conditioned contexts.
13-21 years old
Admited in a residencial intervention program
Prevision of a >6 month stay
Alcohol and/or cannabis use
Psychiatric or neurological pahology that affects cognitive functions
Not being fluent in Spanish
Parallel
Virtual Reality
BehavioralThis group will undergo a 1 individual session with a Virtual Reality program targeting emotion recognition, training on avoidance-approximation to associated stimuli, and exposure to conditioned contexts for substance use. During this session, participants will train specific abilities throug various activities. The tasks have been designed as a serious game in a Virtual Reality setting and include: emotion identification and recognition, practicing avoidance of conditioned substance use stimuli, and approximation to neutral stimuli, and exposure to conditioned situations to train regulation and management abilities for craving.
Treatment as Usual (TAU)
BehavioralParticipants in this group will receive treatment as usual provided by the facility, with no additional intervention. Treatment will be delivered ober the same period of time as in the other study group. Participants will complete one baseline assessment before the study period, and one post-intervention assessment.
Self-Efficacy for Drug Taking measured with Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ-8)
The Drug-Taking Confidence Questionnaire (DTCQ) measures the self-efficacy of individuals regarding their ability to resist drug use.
Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU)
The ICU is a self-reported, 24-item questionnaire that includes three subscales: Callousness (lack of empathy and remorse, callous use of others), Uncaring (lack of concern about performance and other's feelings), and Unemotional (reduced emotional expression and shallow affect). Each item is rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 0 (not true at all), to 3 (definitely true).
Alcohol use measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization to screen for hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. Items are rated on a Likert-type scale and total scores range from 0 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater risk of problematic alcohol use.
Cannabis use measured with the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST)
The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) is a self-report questionnaire consisting of 6 items designed to assess problematic cannabis use. Items are rated on a Likert-type scale and total scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater risk of problematic cannabis use.
Impulsive behavior measured with the UPPS-P short version
The UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale consits of 20 items that measure five distint impulsivity traits: negative urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking, and positive urgency. The scale is scored on a 4 point Likert scake, ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 4 (strongly disagree).
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Universidad Francisco de Vitoria
Lead sponsor
Asociación GINSO
Collaborator
