TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An experiment has discovered that computer generated graphical representation - commonly known as avatar, can be used to treat people who suffers from schizophrenia. Using a customized computer software, a person with schizophrenia, who often claims to hear sounds in their head, can create an avatar based on the sounds they kept on hearing.
The experiment, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, focused on patients failing to respond to medication. After six therapy sessions most patients said that the voices have slowly dissappeared and eventually stops.
"The avatar gradually changes to saying, 'all right I'll leave you alone, I can see I've made your life a misery, how can I help you?' And then begins to encourage them to do things that would actually improve their life," said Professor Julian Leff, Researcher from University College London.
"While anti-psychotic medication is crucial for many people, it comes with some very severe side effects. Our members would be extremely interested in the development of any alternative treatments," said Paul Jenkins from the Rethink, a charity organization dedicated to mental illness.
BBC | CHETA NILAWATY
