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Title

Cognitive behavioural therapy for auditory hallucinations: effectiveness and predictors of outcome in a specialist clinic

Author(s)

Thomas, Neil;  Rossell, Susan;  Farhall, John;  Sawyer, Frances;  Castle, David

Abstract

Cognitive behavioural therapy has been established as an effective treatment for residual psychotic symptoms but a substantial proportion of people do not benefit from this treatment. There has been little direct study of predictors of outcome, particularly in treatment targeting auditory hallucinations. The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were administered pre- and post-therapy to 33 people with schizophrenia-related disorders receiving CBT for auditory hallucinations in a specialist clinic. Outcome was compared with pre-therapy measures of insight, beliefs about the origin of hallucinations, negative symptoms and cognitive disorganization. There were significant improvements post-treatment on the PSYRATS and PANSS Positive and General Scales. Improvement on the PSYRATS was associated with lower levels of negative symptoms, but was unrelated to overall insight, delusional conviction regarding the origins of hallucinations, or levels of cognitive disorganization. Lack of insight and presence of formal thought disorder do not preclude effective cognitive-behavioural treatment of auditory hallucinations. There is a need to further understand why negative symptoms may present a barrier to therapy.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Source

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, Vol. 39, no. 2 (Mar 2011), pp. 129-138

Publication year

2011

FOR Code(s)

1701 Psychology;  1702 Cognitive Sciences

Keyword(s)

Auditory hallucinations;  Cognitive behavioural therapy;  Outpatients;  Schizophrenia;  Psychosis;  Predictors

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

ISSN

1352-4658

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1352465810000548

Copyright

Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2010. The published version is reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

Full text

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