Video Game-facilitated Group Activity for Quality of Life and Social Function in Chronic Schizophrenia Inpatients.

Video Game-facilitated Group Activity for Quality of Life and Social Function in Chronic Schizophrenia Inpatients: A Randomized Controlled Parallel-group Pilot Trial.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if video game-facilitated group activity helps to improve the quality of life and social function in inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does video game-facilitated group activity enhance the quality of life as measured by a standardized scale (WHOQOL) in patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital?
• Can video game-facilitated group activity promote social function as measured by a specific scale (PSP) in patients with schizophrenia hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital?

Researchers will compare video game-facilitated group activity to regular occupational therapy to see if the intervention is beneficial to patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Participants will:

• Attend to video game-facilitated group activity or regular occupational therapy three times a week for 12 weeks.
• Receive assessments upon and after the 12-week intervention, and another 12 weeks after the intervention ends.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals aged between >18 and <65 years with a principal diagnosis of schizophrenia, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes F20.0-F20.9 which was diagnosed according to DSM-5-TR criteria.
• Possessing a valid Catastrophic Illness Certificate for schizophrenia and being continuously hospitalized for more than six months.
• Being able to read Chinese and communicate effectively in either Mandarin or Taiwanese.
• Being able to comprehend the purpose of the study and to provide written informed consent after the study has been explained by the researchers.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals exhibiting unstable psychiatric or consciousness conditions, or those unable to comply with video game-based instruction and operation.
• Individuals with a history of ocular diseases, severe cardiovascular disorders, epilepsy, or brain injuries; or those who have experienced acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events, bone fractures, undergone hip or knee joint replacement, or present with lower limb balance impairments or structural injuries-such as amputations, post-lumbar surgery status, or acute ankle sprains-rendering participation unsuitable within the past six months.
• Concurrent participation in other research studies during the study period, where the intervention may potentially influence the primary or secondary outcomes of this study.
• Individuals who are legally declared under guardianship.