Long-term effects of teaching behavioral strategies for managing persistent auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.
1. Attendance at a 10-week class designed to teach behavioral management strategies to people with schizophrenia was effective in reducing some of the negative characteristics of auditory hallucinations for 12 months and in reducing anxiety for 9 months after completion of the class. 2. The sustained improvement experienced by class participants was characterized by their voices being less frequent and more mumbled and the participants feeling more in control, less distractible, and less anxious. 3. Participants recommended that other mental health consumers take similar classes to learn how to better manage their voices. 4. Monthly support groups may help participants maintain gains lost during the follow-up period.
Buccheri
Robin
R
University of San Francisco, School of Nursing, 2130 Fulton Street, San Francisco, CA 94117, USA. buccherir@usfca.edu
Trygstad
Louise
L
Dowling
Glenna
G
Hopkins
Roberta
R
White
Kathleen
K
Griffin
Jan Johnson
JJ
Henderson
Susan
S
Suciu
Lynda
L
Hippe
Susan
S
Kaas
Merrie J
MJ
Covert
Cheryl
C
Hebert
Patrice
P
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome