The CHALLENGE Project: Fighting Auditory Hallucinations by using Virtual Reality

Abstract

CHALLENGE is a project to develop a novel therapy to aid people who suffer from auditory hallucinations, specifically, hearing malevolent voices.This paper presents the overall idea of the project as well as a description of the software to support this novel treatment. The software includes a virtual reality simulation training program and voice modulation in real time, which enables the patients to face their malevolent voices and lessen their control over the patient’s life. Preliminary evaluations of the utility of the software with skizofrenia patients show promising results. A longitudinal study with 266 patients over the next two years is current undergoing with Region Hovedstadens Psykiatri, Psykiatrien, Region Nordjylland and Psykiatrien i Region Syddanmark. .