Co-design of avatars to embody auditory hallucinations of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract Auditory hallucinations are common and distressing symptoms of the schizophrenia disease. It is commonly treated with pharmacological approaches but, unfortunately, such an approach not effective in all patients. In cases which use antipsychotic drugs possible or recommended, psychotherapeutic interventions used to help patients gain power control against hearing voices. Recently, virtual reality technologies have been incorporated this type therapies. A representation their voice (avatar) created a controlled computer-based environment, patient encouraged confront it. Unfortunately, software tools these therapies described depth and, even more important, best our knowledge, usability, utility intention by therapists, evaluated enough. The involvement end users development beneficial obtaining useful usable tools. Hence, two contributions paper (1) description avatar creation system main technical details configuration auditory hallucination avatars, (2) its evaluation from both therapists’ patients’ viewpoints. does only focus on but also assesses acceptance technology as important indicator future new technological tool. Moreover, most results, lessons learned limitations study discussed.