"Hitting" voices of schizophrenia patients may lastingly reduce persistent auditory hallucinations and their burden: 18-month outcome of a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the outcome of an 18-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) on subjective burden and psychopathology of patients suffering from schizophrenia.


METHODS
An RCT was used to compare hallucination-focused integrative treatment (HIT) and routine treatment (RT) in schizophrenia patients who persistently hear voices. We performed an intent-to-treat analysis on each of the 63 patients who were assessed at baseline, 9, and 18 months. On each of the 3 occasions, the differential effects of the treatment conditions were tested repeatedly. Sex, age, education, and illness (hallucination) duration were used as covariates.


RESULTS
Patients in the experimental group retained improvements over time. Improvements in hallucinations, distress, and negative content of voices remained significant at the 5% level.


CONCLUSIONS
HIT seems to be an effective treatment strategy with long-lasting effects for treatment-refractory voice-hearing patients.
Jenner
Jack A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center and Mental Health Care Foundation, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.a.jenner@psy.umcg.nl
Nienhuis
Fokko J
FJ
van de Willige
Gerard
G
Wiersma
Durk
D
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012562:Schizophrenia, Disorganized / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012919:Social Behavior; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome