Montreal schizophrenia patients face their demons through virtual reality

A pilot project at Montreal’s Philippe-Pinel Institute has patients with schizophrenia confronting voices that torment them by way of a virtual reality experience.

The project, developed by psychiatrist and researcher Alexandre Dumais, allows patients to create computer-generated avatars that look and talk like the demons they face inside their heads.

Learning to fight back

In the beginning, patients find the interaction very difficult. But over six sessions, the psychiatrist helps them to respond to the insults they’re hearing and to develop defence mechanisms.

“I’m a good person,” Breton has learned to respond. “Give me any trouble, and I’ll make you go back inside.”

For Breton, wrestling with a projection of his inner demon has worked.

“I’m able to fight it,” said Breton. “The voices have diminished from 80 to 90 per cent.”

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And - perhaps call the organization if you live near Montreal, Canada:

Here is the researcher:

https://www.pinel.qc.ca/Profile.aspx?NavID=4949&CultureCode=fr-CA

https://www.pinel.qc.ca/ContentT.aspx?NavID=1244&CultureCode=en-CA

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