Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Background: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are serious mental illnesses that are characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and significant cognitive difficulties, particularly in social situations. These challenges are often related to deficits in social cognition— the ability to understand and respond to social cues—which are closely linked to poorer outcomes for patients. While there are various therapies designed to improve social cognition, such as cognitive remediation therapy (CRT), virtual reality (VR) offers an innovative approach. Virtual reality can create realistic scenarios that help patients practice social interactions in an engaging way, potentially leading to better cognitive and functional improvements. Objective: This study aims to explore the potential of a VR-based CRT as a tool to enhance social cognition and functioning in individuals with SSD. Methods: This single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial will include 60 participants assigned to either a VR-CRT group or an active control group. Social cognition (Hinting Task) and functional skills (UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment) will be measured pre- and post-intervention. Repeated-measures ANCOVA will analyze changes in social cognition and functional skills, controlling for age and baseline performance, and compare improvements between groups over time. Significance: Despite promising results from studies on VR and CRT separately, few have looked into their combined potential to improve social cognition in SSD. Incorporating VR into early intervention services has the potential to enhance cognitive abilities and functioning during a crucial period of intervention and highlights the growing importance of innovation in psychiatry.