Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Auditory Hallucinations: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23233-auditory-hallucinations

  Auditory hallucinations happen when you hear voices or noises that dont exist in reality. […] Auditory hallucinations are often associated with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions, but they can happen for several other reasons, such as hearing loss, and arent always a sign of a mental health condition. […] The treatment for auditory hallucinations depends on the cause. Hallucinations caused by temporary conditions, such as extreme hunger or lack of sleep, will stop once the underlying condition has been treated or resolved. […] Healthcare providers only prescribe medication to manage auditory hallucinations if theyre part of an underlying chronic condition. […] For people with mental health conditions who experience auditory hallucinations, psychotherapy (talk therapy) can help in conjunction with medication.

• #2 Hallucinations: Definition, Causes, Treatment & Types

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23350-hallucinations

  Hallucinations are typically a symptom of a psychosis-related disorder, particularly schizophrenia, but they can also result from substance use, neurological conditions and some temporary situations. […] Hearing voices is the most common type of hallucination in people with these mental health conditions. […] The treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause. Hallucinations caused by temporary conditions, such as high fever, severe dehydration or infection, will resolve once the underlying condition has been treated. […] Certain medications and therapies may help treat hallucinations in people with chronic conditions that cause them, including: Typical (first-generation) and atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic medications may help decrease the frequency and severity of hallucinations in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

• #3 The Treatment of Hallucinations in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3577047/

  This article reviews the treatment of hallucinations in schizophrenia. The first treatment option for hallucinations in schizophrenia is antipsychotic medication, which can induce a rapid decrease in severity. […] Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be applied as an augmentation to antipsychotic medication. […] CBT aims at reducing the emotional distress associated with auditory hallucinations and develops new coping strategies. […] Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is capable of reducing the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations. […] Consequently, TMS currently has the status of a potentially useful treatment method for auditory hallucinations, but only in combination with state of the art antipsychotic treatment. […] Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered a last resort for treatment-resistant psychosis.

• #4 Hallucinations: Definition, Causes, Treatment & Types

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23350-hallucinations

  Hallucinations are typically a symptom of a psychosis-related disorder, particularly schizophrenia, but they can also result from substance use, neurological conditions and some temporary situations. […] Hearing voices is the most common type of hallucination in people with these mental health conditions. […] The treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause. Hallucinations caused by temporary conditions, such as high fever, severe dehydration or infection, will resolve once the underlying condition has been treated. […] Certain medications and therapies may help treat hallucinations in people with chronic conditions that cause them, including: Typical (first-generation) and atypical (second-generation) antipsychotic medications may help decrease the frequency and severity of hallucinations in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.

• #5 Hearing Voices With Schizophrenia

  https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-hearing-and-managing-voices

  If you have schizophrenia and you hear voices, know that its not uncommon for people with the condition. Up to 80% of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have this symptom, too. […] Doctors call them auditory hallucinations. Its as if someone is speaking to you, but theyre not actually there. The voices feel very real and can be distracting and stressful. This can affect your overall quality of life. In severe cases, these voices may trigger thoughts of suicide or violence. […] While the voices go away for some, for many, they never completely fade. But its possible to learn to manage them and take back some control in your day-to-day life. […] Prescription medications and talk therapy can help. […] Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed for schizophrenia and can help in a number of ways. The drugs can: Lessen the urge to interact with voices or listen to them, Help you ignore some of the criticism you may hear, Make the voices less frightening, Make the voices less intrusive or in your face.

• #6 Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Persistent Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia | British Journal of Medical Practitioners

  https://www.bjmp.org/content/pharmacological-and-non-pharmacological-interventions-persistent-auditory-hallucinations-schizophrenia

  Refractory auditory hallucinations warrant evidence-based pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies. […] While clozapine seems to have the maximum anti-hallucinatory effect, some patients remain super-refractory even to clozapine treatment. […] Pharmacotherapy alone may not be the answer to refractory auditory hallucinations and a greater spectrum of non-pharmacological therapies is clearly needed. […] Different forms of non-pharmacological therapies are reviewed, including CBT, which has gained popularity as a psychological intervention and an efficacious form of voice therapy. […] Although many forms of treatments aiming to eliminate AVH or improve quality of life are available, use of medication seems to be the most prevalent. […] Besides drug treatment, non-invasive physical treatments, such as TMS and different forms of psychological interventions, have recently evolved.

• #7 Coping with Voices – Living With Schizophrenia

  https://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/information-sheets/coping-with-voices/

  Many people with schizophrenia experience hearing voices or auditory hallucinations as psychiatrists call them. […] The first and most important defence you have against nasty voices is antipsychotic medication (also called neuroleptics). Modern antipsychotics are 70 % effective in relieving the voices and will often make them disappear altogether. […] Antipsychotic medication can help in a number of ways. First of all it will tend to reduce the amount that you hear your voices. In addition it will reduce the compulsion that you have to engage with the voices. […] However one of the biggest problems that doctors face when prescribing antipsychotics is that different medicines work differently on different people. […] It would help the doctor if you keep a diary of how your voices are from day to day.

• #8 Coping with Voices – Living With Schizophrenia

  https://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/information-sheets/coping-with-voices/

  Your aim is to work with the doctor to find the medication that works best for you in relieving your symptoms and to take that medication at the minimum effective dose. […] Talking therapy like counseling is a vital supplement to medication. […] One-to-one counselling with a professionally trained counsellor can be extremely helpful. […] In some areas support groups for voice hearers are provided by the NHS or by the local branches of organisations like Mind or Rethink. […] The other type of talking therapy that is useful is cognitive behavioural therapy which is a form of psychotherapy. […] Cognitive behavioural therapy cannot make your voices disappear but some people find that it is successful in helping them to control or manage their voices. […] There is modest evidence that CBT can help patients to manage their hallucinations and delusions when used in conjunction with antipsychotic medication.

• #9 Auditory hallucinations: Causes, types, and more

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/auditory-hallucinations

  Auditory hallucinations involve hearing sounds that have no source or observable cause. […] Treatment entails addressing the underlying cause. For instance, if the cause of auditory hallucinations is schizophrenia, doctors usually treat it with second-generation antipsychotics. […] Treating and managing auditory hallucinations vary according to the underlying condition. […] If auditory hallucinations have associations with psychosis, treatment involves an antipsychotic medication. This treatment should alleviate the hallucinations within 1 week. […] Researchers recommend treating any underlying cause of auditory hallucinations. This could entail measures, such as: taking thyroid medication to correct a thyroid hormone deficiency, changing the diet to reverse nutritional deficiencies, taking anti-seizure medication, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), to treat epilepsy.

• #10 Hallucinations: Definition, Causes, Treatment & Types

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23350-hallucinations

  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) may reduce auditory hallucinations that don’t respond to antipsychotic medications. […] Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may reduce psychosis (hallucinations and/or delusions) in people with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

• #11 Hearing Voices With Schizophrenia

  https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-hearing-and-managing-voices

  Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is when a mental health professional helps you work through what the voices mean, how they make you feel, and how they control what you think about yourself. […] CBT can: Lessen anxiety about hearing voices, Help you stand up to them, Help you build control over the voices. […] Avatar therapy. This is a newer form of talk therapy where computer technology is used to make an avatar, or animated version, of the voices you hear. […] A few small-scale studies have shown that avatar therapy may help make the voices appear less often and ease overall stress. […] Support groups. This can help you connect with others who also hear voices or live with similar schizophrenia-related issues. […] Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (RTMS). Its a painless, noninvasive procedure in which an electromagnetic coil is placed on your scalp near your forehead.

• #12 Hearing voices | Mental Health Foundation

  https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/hearing-voices

  Hearing voices is sometimes called an auditory hallucination. Some people have other hallucinations, such as seeing, smelling, tasting or feeling things that dont exist outside their mind. Whatever your experience, youre not alone. […] If you hear voices, talk to your GP. They will usually check for any physical reasons you could be hearing voices before diagnosing you with a mental health condition or referring you to a psychiatrist. […] If your voices are the result of a mental health condition, you may be offered: talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT can help you learn what triggers your voices and how to manage them. It can also help you stand up to them if theyre critical or negative […] medication, most likely an antipsychotic drug. This may stop the voices, make them quieter or make you feel less concerned about them. You may only need medication for a short time while you learn other techniques to manage the voices. […] You may also be offered family intervention (where support is provided to both you and your family), art or creative therapy, or therapy for experiences of trauma.

• #13 Psychological Therapies for Auditory Hallucinations (Voices): Current Status and Key Directions for Future Research

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4141318/

  Using the comprehensive approach of HIT, improvements have been observed on voice-related distress, overall psychotic symptoms, depression, social functioning, and quality of life, including gains which are maintained at follow-up. […] Since the early focus of psychological therapies on enhancing coping and reframing beliefs about voices, a number of ongoing developments in therapeutic approaches for voices have emerged. […] One major area of development has been the application of acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to voices. […] Current trials for people with distressing voices that the authors are aware of include RCTs of mindfulness-based CBT groups; avatar therapy; an intervention focusing on relational aspects of voices; and a peer-delivered intervention focusing on developing shared understanding of voice experience.

• #14 3 Things to Know About Treatment for Hallucinations – Oklahoma Counseling Institute

  https://www.counselinginstitute.org/news/3-things-to-know-about-treatment-for-hallucinations

  Therefore, interventions that are successful in improving social behavior may prove to be beneficial in this isolated population as they may lead to increased socialization and decreased isolation. […] In line with a general trend in psychological therapies, one major area of development has been the application of acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to voices. […] These interventions focus less on belief change and more on changing the relationship with internal experiences such as hearing voices. […] Another approach to treating hallucinations is cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp). […] Overall, it is important to work with clients on understanding the meaning of their hallucinatory experiences, learning ways to test them, and then developing coping strategies in conjunction with medication management, as needed, to help them lead purposeful and fulfilling lives despite these experiences.

• #15 Psychological Therapies for Auditory Hallucinations (Voices): Current Status and Key Directions for Future Research

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4141318/

  The development of psychological therapies for voices has primarily involved the application of behavioral and cognitive-behavioral methods with persons with psychotic disorders. […] In practice, CBT for voices is characterized by an emphasis on engagement and the therapeutic relationship; on an individualized formulation approach, with an emphasis on making sense of voices within a developmental and often interpersonal framework, and aiming for meaningful change within the context of valued goals; on the integration between emotional and psychosis processes; and on changing peoples relationships with their voices. […] A comprehensive intervention approach targeting this is hallucination-focused integrative therapy (HIT), which integrates coping enhancement and CBTp with a variety of motivational strategies, behavioral reinforcement, family therapy, rehabilitation, and crisis management.

• #16 Psychological Therapies for Auditory Hallucinations (Voices): Current Status and Key Directions for Future Research

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4141318/

  Using the comprehensive approach of HIT, improvements have been observed on voice-related distress, overall psychotic symptoms, depression, social functioning, and quality of life, including gains which are maintained at follow-up. […] Since the early focus of psychological therapies on enhancing coping and reframing beliefs about voices, a number of ongoing developments in therapeutic approaches for voices have emerged. […] One major area of development has been the application of acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to voices. […] Current trials for people with distressing voices that the authors are aware of include RCTs of mindfulness-based CBT groups; avatar therapy; an intervention focusing on relational aspects of voices; and a peer-delivered intervention focusing on developing shared understanding of voice experience.

• #17 Treating And Managing Schizophrenia Audio Hallucinations | BetterHelp

  https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/schizophrenia/treating-and-managing-schizophrenia-audio-hallucinations/

  Audio hallucinations, sometimes called paracusias, are a symptom of schizophrenia (and some other mental illnesses) in which individuals hear voices or noises without an external stimulus. […] Regardless of their cause, auditory hallucinations can be frightening and distressing. They may contribute to a host of problems in daily life for those who experience them, including challenges with concentration, social interactions, work, and self-care. Still, they can often be managed with a combination of regular therapy sessions and doctor-prescribed medication. […] Evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an integral part of managing schizophrenia symptoms, including hallucinations. […] Clinical trials indicate that people with auditory hallucinations treated with HIT usually experience longer lasting and broader ranging effects than other therapies, higher satisfaction, and lower drop-out rates.

• #18 Avatar therapy to reduce auditory hallucinations for people with schizophrenia | UCL News – UCL – University College London

  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2017/nov/avatar-therapy-reduce-auditory-hallucinations-people-schizophrenia

  An experimental therapy which involves a face-to-face discussion between a person with schizophrenia and an avatar representing their auditory hallucination may help reduce symptoms, when provided alongside usual treatment, according to a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal. […] The randomised controlled trial compared the avatar therapy to a form of supportive counselling (adapted specifically for the study). It found that avatar therapy was more effective at reducing hallucinations at 12-week follow-up, and had a large effect size. […] „Our study provides early evidence that avatar therapy rapidly improves auditory hallucinations for people with schizophrenia, reducing their frequency and how distressing they are, compared to a type of counselling. So far, these improvements appear to last for up to six months for these patients.”

• #19 Avatar therapy to reduce auditory hallucinations for people with schizophrenia | UCL News – UCL – University College London

  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2017/nov/avatar-therapy-reduce-auditory-hallucinations-people-schizophrenia

  After 12 weeks, the avatar group’s symptoms were rated as less severe than those who received counselling. […] People who had received avatar therapy also found their hallucinations less distressing and less powerful than people in the counselling group. […] The rapid improvements seen in the avatar treatment group were sustained at 24 weeks. However, during this time, hallucinations continued to become less frequent and less distressing for the counselling group also, likely because counselling could be a potentially useful therapy. […] The researchers aim to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis, and investigate further the mechanisms of how the treatment reduces symptoms.

• #20 Understanding Hallucinations: Causes, Types & Treatment Options

  https://greaterbostonbehavioralhealth.com/rehab-blog/hallucinations-causes-types-and-treatment/

  Effective treatment for hallucinations depends on the underlying cause and may involve a combination of therapies, including: […] Medication […] Antipsychotics: These medications are often prescribed for hallucinations associated with mental health disorders like schizophrenia or severe depression. Common options include risperidone and aripiprazole. […] Psychotherapy […] Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This evidence-based therapy helps individuals understand and manage their hallucinations by addressing distorted thought patterns and reducing their impact on daily life. […] Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Particularly effective for individuals with emotional regulation challenges, DBT can help those experiencing intense emotions and distressing symptoms. […] Trauma Therapy: For individuals whose hallucinations stem from trauma, specialized therapies focused on processing trauma can be beneficial.

• #21

  https://www.psychosisnet.com/psychosis/symptoms-of-psychosis/hearing-voices/

  In the past, it was believed that people hearing voices had a mental illness. So the traditional treatment was to give them medications. Currently, treatment has become more and more focused on the personal life history of the voice hearer. Hearing voices in your head is often an effect of emotional events and traumatic experiences that one has not dealt with. The voices may have the identity of someone connected to the traumatic memory. […] Learning to deal with the voices in your head also means learning to listen to them in a different way. It can be very scary if your voices are commanding you to do something or say rude or mean things to you. In therapy, a lot of people find out that the voices in their head are actually trying to tell them something. By talking to a care worker about their voices, people can find out what their meaning is.

• #22 Understanding Hallucinations: Causes, Types & Treatment Options

  https://greaterbostonbehavioralhealth.com/rehab-blog/hallucinations-causes-types-and-treatment/

  Family Therapy Program […] Involving family members in therapy can improve understanding and support for the individual experiencing hallucinations. Family therapy program can create a more supportive home environment and improve communication. […] Group Therapy Program […] Sharing experiences with others facing similar challenges can provide emotional support and reduce feelings of isolation. Group therapy program settings allow individuals to learn from each other and foster a sense of community. […] Outpatient Mental Health Treatment […] Structured outpatient programs, including Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), offer comprehensive support while allowing individuals to maintain their daily routines. These programs provide therapy and support without requiring overnight stays.

• #23 Understanding Hallucinations: Causes, Types & Treatment Options

  https://greaterbostonbehavioralhealth.com/rehab-blog/hallucinations-causes-types-and-treatment/

  Holistic Approaches […] Integrating mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle changes can also help individuals manage symptoms and reduce stress. Practices such as yoga, meditation, and nature therapy have shown promise in improving overall well-being. […] If hallucinations are frequent, interfere with daily life, or cause significant distress, it’s a good idea to seek help. Professional support is essential if hallucinations are paired with other mental health symptoms, like anxiety or depression, or if they arise suddenly without any clear cause. […] Treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause. Mental health therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can be effective, especially when combined with medication if needed. At Greater Boston Behavioral Health, we offer a variety of treatment options, including Intensive Outpatient Programs and Partial Hospitalization Programs, tailored to help manage hallucinations.

• #24 Evidence-based psychological approaches for auditory hallucinations | BJPsych Advances | Cambridge Core

  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-advances/article/evidencebased-psychological-approaches-for-auditory-hallucinations/A3A3CA46C3FD260F06805F51F149DB47

  CSE has evidence for its effectiveness from two randomised controlled trials (RCTs) when voices were one of the psychotic symptoms that were targeted during 810 sessions of therapy. […] Turkington et al suggest a range of approaches for helping patients to focus on voices. […] This approach combines two evidence-based techniques: (a) playing detective by seeking all the available information prior to re-evaluating the accuracy of beliefs about voices; and (b) standing up for oneself by assertively presenting any new information to the voice. […] These adapted practices can be safely used with patients to enable them to step back from voices and deliberately pay attention to and process information that may be beyond their usual gaze; this makes new information available that can be incorporated into re-evaluations of beliefs about self and voices.

• #25 Hallucinations: Symptoms, Types, Causes, Treatment

  https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-hallucinations-378819

  Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a relatively non-invasive procedure that involves placing a small magnetic device directly on the skull, has some preliminary evidence that it may be able to reduce the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations in some people with schizophrenia.

• #26 Hearing Voices With Schizophrenia

  https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-hearing-and-managing-voices

  Research suggests RTMS sessions can help make the voices appear less often and make them less intense. […] Ways you can try to control the effects of voices include: Find distractions. Staying busy or focusing on something else to keep your mind occupied may help. […] Vocalization. Talking out loud might help keep the voices from flooding your thoughts and causing trouble. […] Keep a diary. Write down each time you hear voices, how they make you feel, and what effect they have on your mental and physical health. […] Avoid drugs and alcohol. They can worsen symptoms and may trigger paranoia or visual hallucinations. […] Find ways to relax. Schizophrenia symptoms tend to get worse if youre stressed. […] Be assertive. If the voices are gaining control over your actions and thoughts, try to confidently speak back. […] Practice selective listening. Voices can often range from positive to negative. Try to pay attention or engage only when the voices are positive.

• #27 Quieting the voices of schizophrenia < Yale School of Medicine

  https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/quieting-the-voices-of-schizophrenia/

  The first rTMS study at Yale provided significant relief for Victor B., reducing the severity of his hallucinations from about 500 per day to about 70 a day for several months. Since his second trial a few months ago using a higher dosage of rTMS that was positioned using neuroimaging data, he says his voices have disappeared entirely.

• #28 tDCS for Schizophrenia | Evidence & Treatment | neurocare

  https://www.neurocaregroup.com/tdcs-for-auditory-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia

  tDCS can induce synaptic changes and promote neuroplasticity, potentially modulating brain activity and reducing hallucinations. […] tDCS has Level B evidence, which is considered to be probably effective in the treatment of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. […] The results showed that tDCS significantly reduced the severity of auditory verbal hallucinations, with a mean reduction of 31%, and the improvement lasted for up to three months. […] Although the study had a small sample size, the findings suggest that tDCS has the potential to be a promising treatment for refractory auditory verbal hallucinations and certain manifestations of schizophrenia, in patients which had not been helped by pharmacology.

• #29 Resolution of Persistent Auditory Verbal Hallucinations after Long-term Electroconvulsive Therapy Maintenance: A Case Report of a Patient with Clozapine-resistant Schizophrenia

  https://www.cpn.or.kr/journal/view.html?doi=10.9758/cpn.2021.19.1.170

  A 32-year-old woman with schizophrenia and persistent auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs), which caused continuous suicidal thoughts and depression, was treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) of an acute course followed by maintenance ECT (M-ECT) augmented onto clozapine for 7 years. […] Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) augmentation onto clozapine has been reported to be particularly effective for refractory schizophrenia. […] In summary, we report a case showing a sudden sharp reduction in persistent AVHs after 3 years of long-term M-ECT. […] The present patient noticed a sudden remarkable decrease in persistent AVHs and suicidal thoughts when M-ECT and clozapine lasted for 3 years and was comfortable for the first time since her initial experience of AVHs. […] It can be concluded that long-term ECT augmentation is effective for the resolution of the AVHs in this patient with insufficient response to clozapine.

• #30 Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia – Psychiatry Advisor

  https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/features/auditory-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia-dysfunction/

  Interventions for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia should be coordinated with patients to fit their needs. […] For most schizophrenia patients, antipsychotics are the treatment of choice and are effective for most patients. However, he also points out that, about 30% of patients have treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations, for which the standard of care is to increase the dose of antipsychotics, which he believes may not be so effective. Clozapine is sometimes effective for treatment-resistant symptoms, including auditory hallucinations. […] Treatment resistance and drug adverse effects have led to the development of new interventions to help patients with schizophrenia cope with auditory hallucinations. Cognitive behavioral approaches, in particular, are widely used, including distraction techniques (listening to music, reading, art) or focusing techniques (rational responding, generating compassion towards the voice, mindfulness).

• #31 Coping with Voices – Living With Schizophrenia

  https://livingwithschizophreniauk.org/information-sheets/coping-with-voices/

  Some voice hearers use headphones to distract themselves from the voices. […] Many people find that voices are less troublesome when they themselves are talking. […] This technique is to be much preferred to the alternatives of either humouring the person with schizophrenia and not challenging their mad thoughts at all or alternatively criticising and ridiculing these ideas. […] Using street drugs or alcohol to cope with voices doesn’t work. […] Relaxation techniques sometimes help the sufferer by not only reducing the voices but also helping them to cope with the anxiety that goes with them. […] It is far better to develop a strategy of continuously questioning and distrusting the voices in order to eventually be in a position where you are controlling the voices and not the other way around.

• #32 Hallucinations and hearing voices – NHS

  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/hallucinations-hearing-voices/

  Treatment for hallucinations will depend on what’s causing it. […] For example, if you have a mental health condition like schizophrenia, you may be given therapy or medicine to help reduce your hallucinations. […] A GP may recommend lifestyle changes like drinking less alcohol, not taking drugs and getting more sleep to reduce your hallucinations.

• #33 Treatment for Hearing Voices in Your Head: Finding Relief from Auditory Hallucinations – BrightQuest Treatment Centers

  https://www.brightquest.com/blog/treatment-for-hearing-voices-in-your-head-finding-relief-from-auditory-hallucinations/

  Treatment for Hearing Voices in Your Head: Finding Relief from Auditory Hallucinations […] Auditory hallucinations and other symptoms of psychosis can be extremely disorienting and distressing. The available treatment options for psychotic episodes are very effective, but it’s critical for someone to receive an accurate diagnosis because the cause of psychosis can vary widely. Only then can clinicians determine the best combination of treatment for hearing voices in your head. […] The doctor reassured him that there are a lot of very effective treatment options for hearing voices in your head and other symptoms of psychosis. […] If someone you know is hearing voices, it’s very important that they receive an accurate diagnosis right away so they can begin with an appropriate course of treatment. Typically, for psychotic symptoms, people respond best to a combination of medication and therapy. […] Antipsychotic medications can be very effective at minimizing psychotic symptoms. […] It’s also very important that someone receives psychotherapeutic treatment along with medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is one of the most common and effective approaches. […] The bottom line is that treatment is available and effective for that person in your life who is hearing voices and feeling lost. By accessing and sustaining that treatment, recovery is very possible.

• #34 Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: helping patients to develop effective coping strategies | BJPsych Advances | Cambridge Core

  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-advances/article/auditory-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia-helping-patients-to-develop-effective-coping-strategies/F35C4FD6D8702584A860FEB9978EA503

  Instead of helping the voices to diminish, such ineffective coping strategies often perpetuate and exacerbate the maintenance cycle […] All coping strategies can increase distress if not used appropriately. In essence, the approach recommended here is to identify avoidance or escape-based strategies and then help the patient to move towards efficient distraction […] and, ultimately, focused coping strategies. […] The patient can decide whether or not they would like to learn and attempt a new coping technique. Patients often find it empowering to know that there are many coping strategies that have worked successfully for other voice hearers. […] If a focusing strategy is chosen, it should be explained that such strategies may result in a temporary increase in voice severity and distress, before improvement ensues.

• #35 Auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia: helping patients to develop effective coping strategies | BJPsych Advances | Cambridge Core

  https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-advances/article/auditory-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia-helping-patients-to-develop-effective-coping-strategies/F35C4FD6D8702584A860FEB9978EA503

  The route to recovery with voice hearing is to master an effective personal distraction strategy and, after a number of weeks, to move on to a focusing approach. […] Focusing strategies fall into several categories: rational responding, schema-based techniques, voice postponement and voice study periods, writing down voice content, working with linked imagery, generating compassion towards the voice, achieving acceptance in relation to a valued goal, mindfulness, attention training. […] The Morrison maintenance model allows clinicians to explain to patients that voice hearing is common and understandable, and can be worked with successfully. Giving up ineffective coping strategies to practise new, more effective strategies can be challenging for some patients, but offering them examples of successful voice management along with a list of 60 coping strategies can engender hope and change. The route to recovery may be enhanced by first identifying ineffective coping strategies, then teaching the patient effective distraction techniques and, finally, focusing techniques that will ultimately diminish the voice hearing experience, leaving the person with voice-free periods and a marked reduction in distress.

• #36 Hallucinations and hearing voices | nidirect

  https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/hallucinations-and-hearing-voices

  Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don’t exist outside their mind. See your GP straight away if you’re experiencing hallucinations and you’re worried about them. […] Hallucinations can be frightening, but there’s usually an identifiable cause. For example, they can occur as a result of: a mental illness, such as schizophrenia or dementia. […] Hearing voices in the mind is the most common type of hallucination in people with mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia. […] If you’re hearing voices, discuss any concerns you have with your GP. If necessary, they’ll refer you to a psychiatrist, to find out if you have a serious mental illness. […] It’s important to be thoroughly assessed and treated early. If your voices are due to schizophrenia, the earlier your treatment is started, the better the outcome. […] Some people who hear voices are able to live with them and get used to them, or may consider them a part of their life. […] The experience is usually very distressing, but it’s not always negative.

• #37 Psychological Therapies for Auditory Hallucinations (Voices): Current Status and Key Directions for Future Research

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4141318/

  The first issue is that the efficacy trials conducted to date and reviewed in recent meta-analyses, appear to have been quite limited in informing the specifics of how therapy should be applied to voices. […] A key issue on which participants may vary is the extent to which maladaptive beliefs about voice identity and power predominate, which may apply to only a proportion of people. […] It is similarly important to note that voices span diagnostic categories, yet therapies have been developed primarily for persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. […] Major developments which may influence this include the increasing use of online and mobile technology as media for delivering interventions, increasing employment of graduate level mental health workers, and an increasing role of peers with lived experience in provision of services.

• #38 3 Things to Know About Treatment for Hallucinations – Oklahoma Counseling Institute

  https://www.counselinginstitute.org/news/3-things-to-know-about-treatment-for-hallucinations

  A hallucination is generally regarded as a false perception of objects or events involving your senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. […] Since research suggests between 17 and 38% of individuals experience some kind of hallucination, clinicians may want to broaden their understanding of the etiology and treatment of pathological hallucinations. […] A clinician should never assume that the report of what seems to be a hallucination is necessarily a symptom of pathology and that the patients cultural background needs to be considered when assessing and treating hallucinations. […] Among the more difficult challenges to face as a mental health therapist is finding what therapeutic approaches are most effective for clients who experience hallucinations. […] While antipsychotic medications are often effective in diminishing symptoms, 10-60% of patients with schizophrenia respond poorly or incompletely to typical antipsychotics and 20-30% of patients taking typical antipsychotics as prescribed will relapse within the first year of maintenance treatment.

• #39 Schizophrenia: Treatment for Voices

  https://www.healthline.com/health-news/schizophrenia-voice-research

  By the end of the treatment session, researchers said there was approximately 30 to 35 percent reduction in hearing voices. […] Frangou noted that there are about 35 other studies on the use of TMS and that this report adds to the existing evidence that the technique can work. […] Antipsychotic drugs do help to lessen symptoms, particularly second-generation drugs. […] Twenty percent [of people with schizophrenia] respond extremely well to antipsychotic drugs with in the first five years, Frangou said. […] This is a tremendous improvement, she said. […] The key, she said, is to focus on finding biological pathways that are modifiable. Investing in technology that will change the cross talk in the brain would be a significant achievement in treating schizophrenia.

• #40 Resolution of Persistent Auditory Verbal Hallucinations after Long-term Electroconvulsive Therapy Maintenance: A Case Report of a Patient with Clozapine-resistant Schizophrenia

  https://www.cpn.or.kr/journal/view.html?doi=10.9758/cpn.2021.19.1.170

  This patient shows that long-term M-ECT may eventually lead to symptom reduction along with decreasing suicide thoughts even when the daily clozapine dose is gradually decreased to 200 mg. […] In conclusion, this case demonstrates that AVHs may eventually improve, even in clozapine-resistant schizophrenia with persistent AHVs, when long-term M-ECT is continued.

• #41 Psychological Therapies for Auditory Hallucinations (Voices): Current Status and Key Directions for Future Research

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4141318/

  RCT data for the use of CBTp in schizophrenia supports the idea that including psychological therapy in addition to routine care is more beneficial than routine care alone on participants report of psychotic symptom severity, with very recent data suggesting that this extends to measures of overall voice severity.

• #42 Auditory hallucination – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_hallucination

  The primary means of treating auditory hallucinations is antipsychotic medications which affect dopamine metabolism. If the primary diagnosis is a mood disorder (with psychotic features), adjunctive medications are often used (e.g., antidepressants or mood stabilizers). These medical approaches may allow the person to function normally but are not a cure as they do not eradicate the underlying thought disorder. […] Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to help decrease the frequency and distressfulness of auditory hallucinations, particularly when other psychotic symptoms were presenting. Enhanced supportive therapy has been shown to reduce the frequency of auditory hallucinations, the violent resistance the patient displayed towards said hallucinations, and an overall decrease in the perceived malignancy of the hallucinations.

• #43 Avatar therapy could help patients manage hallucinations | Association of Health Care Journalists

  https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2024/11/avatar-therapy-could-help-patients-manage-hallucinations/

  People who have schizophrenia or other conditions involving psychosis (a disconnect from reality) frequently report auditory hallucinations or hearing voices. […] Over the past decade or so, researchers in the United Kingdom have been studying a novel digital treatment to help people confront their hallucinations: avatar therapy. […] The treatment involves interacting with a digital avatar of the voice, under therapist supervision. […] The largest trial of this therapy published recently in Nature Medicine demonstrated that peoples distress about the voices as well as the severity and frequency of the voices decreased after 16 weeks of treatment. […] The aim is to reduce voice-related distress and build empowerment, so over a series of sessions, the avatars negative voice retreats in response to the patients comments.

• #44 Avatar therapy could help patients manage hallucinations | Association of Health Care Journalists

  https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2024/11/avatar-therapy-could-help-patients-manage-hallucinations/

  After 16 weeks, participants in both groups experienced improvements in areas such as voice-related distress, severity, empowerment, mood and well-being compared to a control group that received usual psychotherapy without the addition of avatars. […] Based on previous research leading up to this study, the UKs National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends avatar therapy as one of three digital health technologies that can be used in the National Health Service to help manage symptoms of psychosis while more evidence is generated. […] Meanwhile, investigators are seeking to provide avatar therapy in routine health settings to gather real-world evidence of its effectiveness over the next three years. […] Still, despite its limitations, its exciting to give people new options for psychological therapy.

• #45 Hallucination – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination

  Hallucinations can be caused by a number of factors. […] There are few treatments for many types of hallucinations. However, for those hallucinations caused by mental disease, a psychologist or psychiatrist should be consulted, and treatment will be based on the observations of those doctors. Antipsychotic and atypical antipsychotic medication may also be utilized to treat the illness if the symptoms are severe and cause significant distress. […] Meta-analyses show that cognitive behavioral therapy and metacognitive training can also reduce the severity of hallucinations. Furthermore, there are recovery movements all around the world that advocate for individuals with schizophrenia or voice-hearers (individuals that hear voices). The Hearing Voices Movement, starting in Europe, aims to utilize knowledge and experience of voice hearers combined with experts in disorders such as schizophrenia, such as psychiatrists.

• #46 tDCS for Schizophrenia | Evidence & Treatment | neurocare

  https://www.neurocaregroup.com/tdcs-for-auditory-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia

  Acoustic hallucinations, also known as auditory hallucinations, are a common symptom experienced by a significant portion of individuals with schizophrenia, estimated to affect between 50 and 70% of patients. […] Treating auditory hallucinations can be challenging, and conventional approaches such as antipsychotic medications may not always be effective for all patients. […] Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential treatment option for these difficult-to-treat hallucinations. […] The application of tDCS has shown promising results in reducing auditory hallucinations in a relatively small number of treatment sessions. […] Researchers and therapists are interested in exploring tDCS as a treatment for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia due to its potential to offer a safe, non-invasive, and potentially effective approach.

• #47 Hallucinations: MedlinePlus Medical EncyclopediaLock

  https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003258.htm

  Hallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind. […] Hearing voices when no one has spoken (the most common type of hallucination). These voices may be positive, negative, or neutral. They may command someone to do something that may cause harm to themselves or others. […] A person who begins to hallucinate and is detached from reality should get checked by their health care provider right away. Many medical and mental conditions that can cause hallucinations may quickly become emergencies. The person should not be left alone. […] Treatment depends on the cause of your hallucinations.

• #48 Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Persistent Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia | British Journal of Medical Practitioners

  https://www.bjmp.org/content/pharmacological-and-non-pharmacological-interventions-persistent-auditory-hallucinations-schizophrenia

  CBT has been proven beneficial in tackling command hallucinations. […] Combining psycho-education and supportive psychotherapy has been found to enhance the functioning and self-esteem of voice hearers, providing a therapeutic structure. […] Hallucination-focused Integrative Therapy (HIT) is geared towards integrating CBT with neuroleptics, coping strategies, psycho-education, motivational intervention, rehabilitation and family treatment. […] Although drug treatment may be the most practical way of managing AVH, refractory cases pose formidable challenges and it must be emphasized that psychological treatments are not counterproductive if applied skilfully.

• #49 Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions for Psychosis

  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/brief-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-interventions-psychosis

  If the hallucinations have positive content and the patient is not distressed by them, no intervention is necessary. […] For stigma and demoralization, referring patients to websites such as a hearing-voices network can provide access to stories of individuals with voices and encourage them to join a local hearing-voices group. […] Command hallucinations can be addressed by finding alternative behaviors that are more adaptive. […] The outcome of interventions for voices can include learning more about triggers to avoid, enhanced ability to control the voices, being able to ignore the commands, or learning to accept them without letting them interfere with functioning.

• #50

  https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Hearing-Voices-and-Seeing-Things-102.aspx

  Hearing voices or seeing things that are not there can be a part of normal development, but they may also happen as a result of the following: […] Talk to your child and try to clarify what he is experiencing. Consider how your child is doing in all areas of his life such as at school, with friends, in the neighborhood, and with family. Any child with disordered thinking or behavior should be evaluated immediately. If you are concerned, speak with your family physician or pediatrician. They may be able to help or will be able to refer you to a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat children with emotional and behavior problems.

• #51 Auditory Hallucinations Don’t Have to Be Bad

  https://evolvetreatment.com/blog/hearing-voices/

  When the voices you hear stop you from living your life the way you want to – or if they become hostile, commanding, harmful, scary, or tell you to do things you know are dangerous and harmful to yourself or others – it’s important to get help from a mental health professional immediately. […] Depending on your circumstances and the result of a full assessment from a mental health professional, you might benefit from treatment. This may include outpatient therapy or an intensive outpatient program/partial hospitalization program. In some cases, a residential treatment program at an accredited mental health treatment center for teens may be appropriate.

• #52 Hallucinations and dementia | Alzheimer’s Society

  https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/hallucinations

  Some people with dementia will have hallucinations in different senses for example: […] auditory hallucinations hearing things that arent there, like voices or footsteps […] Hallucinations can be extremely distressing, and can lead to the person with dementia becoming frightened and in need of support. However, some people find the hallucinations pleasant or comforting. It often depends on what they are hallucinating and how others respond. […] Drug treatments are often not that helpful for people with dementia. However hallucinations, particularly in people with dementia with Lewy bodies, may respond to anti-dementia drugs. […] Antipsychotic medication can sometimes help to reduce severe or distressing hallucinations. They should only be used when other treatments have not worked, as they can cause unpleasant or dangerous side-effects. This medication should be regularly reviewed.

• #53 Hallucinations/Delusions | Parkinson’s Foundation

  https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms/hallucinations-delusions

  Psychosis can vary from severe confusion (disordered thinking) to seeing things that arent there (hallucinations) to believing things that are not true (delusions). […] It is important to report any hallucinations or delusions to your medical team, even if they are not bothersome. […] Between 20-40% of people with Parkinsons report the experience of hallucinations or delusions. […] Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears or feels something that is not actually there. […] Hallucinations are most often a side effect of medication and are not necessarily a sign of a decline in cognitive abilities. […] It is important for people with PD to talk about hallucinations with their family and care team these are manageable and can be troublesome if not treated. […] Treating Parkinsons disease psychosis is a multistep process that begins with talking to your healthcare team.

• #54 Hallucinations/Delusions | Parkinson’s Foundation

  https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms/hallucinations-delusions

  Treatment, when needed, generally begins with adjustment of your PD medications and referral to counseling. […] If further intervention is needed, your doctor may initiate antipsychotic therapy, using drugs to rebalance the chemical levels in the brain and reduce episodes of hallucinations, illusions, and delusions. […] Antipsychotic medications can worsen motor symptoms and should not be prescribed for people with PD.

• #55 Psychiatry.org – What is Schizophrenia?

  https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia

  Treatment can help many people with schizophrenia lead highly productive and rewarding lives. As with other chronic illnesses, some patients do extremely well while others continue to be symptomatic and need support and assistance. After the symptoms of schizophrenia are controlled, various types of therapy should continue to help people manage the illness and improve their lives. Therapy and psychosocial supports can help people learn social skills, cope with stress, identify early warning signs of relapse and prolong periods of remission. […] For many people living with schizophrenia family support is particularly important to their health and well-being. It is also essential for families to be informed and supported themselves. Organizations such as the Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance, Mental Health America (MHA) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer resources and support to individuals with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses and their families.

• #56 Hallucinations and dementia | Alzheimer’s Society

  https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/hallucinations

  If the person you care for regularly hallucinates, make an appointment for them to see their GP. […] When a person is hallucinating, how you respond has a big impact on their experience and wellbeing. If a person is hallucinating, try the following tips. […] People are less likely to hear voices that are not there when they are talking to someone real. Having company may help. They could try a befriending service. […] When seeing the GP for support with hallucinations, it will help to bring details of: […] what the person saw or sensed […] how the person responded (for example, if they were distressed) and the words they used to describe what they experienced.

• #57

  https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=aa48238&lang=en-ca

  A hallucination is a perception of something that is not really there. It can involve sight, hearing, taste, smell, and/or touch. For example, you may hear voices that nobody else hears or see something that nobody else sees. […] Tell the person that he or she is having a hallucination and that you do not see or hear what he or she does. […] Help the person find ways to handle the hallucinations. This can include listening to music or watching TV.

• #58 Auditory Hallucinations in Psychiatric Illness

  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/auditory-hallucinations-psychiatric-illness

  The assessment and differential diagnosis of auditory hallucinations, recent theoretical frameworks, and treatment options are also briefly discussed. […] When treatment is required, antipsychotic medication is usually the treatment of choice in organic and psychiatric conditions. […] Studies show that some patients respond well to cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the focus is on evaluating and monitoring one’s perceptions, beliefs, and reasoning; promoting alternative ways of coping; and reducing distress. […] Evidence also suggests that a combination of family and psychological interventions, as well as medication, may be the most beneficial treatment for auditory hallucinations. […] There is increasing evidence that peer support groups (voice-hearers networks) can help alleviate the impact of voices.

• #59 Auditory Hallucinations in Schizophrenia – Psychiatry Advisor

  https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/features/auditory-hallucinations-in-schizophrenia-dysfunction/

  When the root cause of auditory hallucinations can be traced to trauma, Dr Hayward opines that for some patients, it can be important to revisit and generate new meanings around these root causes. […] Digital technologies are also facilitating novel approaches to the treatment of auditory hallucinations. AVATAR therapy, for example, enables the patient to have a conversation with the digital representation (AVATAR) of the voice. […] Transcranial direct current stimulation is another approach for treating auditory hallucinations in patients who are refractory to treatment with antipsychotics. […] Patients who are distressed by hearing voices often have a complex range of needs and mental health problems that require a biopsychosocial approach to care and treatment, explains Dr Hayward. The choice of interventions for distressing voices should always be informed by the evidence base, and these interventions should be integrated into a comprehensive care/recovery plan. Moreover, the patient should be involved in the process of reviewing and selecting the interventions that best fit with their needs and preferences.

• #60 AVATAR: a digital mental health treatment for psychosis | News | Wellcome

  https://wellcome.org/news/avatar-digital-therapy-could-help-people-who-hear-voices

  AVATAR therapy aims to reduce the distress that people who hear voices can experience. […] AVATAR therapy is for people who hear voices, also known as auditory hallucinations. […] Results from the latest trial show it can reduce the voices heard by an individual, and the distress these voices can cause. […] In AVATAR therapy, the person who hears voices works with a therapist to build an avatar a digital representation of the voice inside their head. […] After speaking with their avatar, individuals can reflect on the conversation they had with their therapist. The sessions are designed to help people take back power from the voice they hear and reduce the distress they experience hearing it. […] The trial, funded by Wellcome, showed that AVATAR therapy was more effective than counselling at reducing the distress experienced by people who hear voices.

• #61 AVATAR: a digital mental health treatment for psychosis | News | Wellcome

  https://wellcome.org/news/avatar-digital-therapy-could-help-people-who-hear-voices

  Participants who received the Brief or Extended versions of the therapy saw significant improvements in the severity of the voices heard and the distress caused by it, compared to those who received treatment as usual. […] Its fantastic to see AVATAR therapy confirmed as a real contender to have an impact on peoples lives by reducing the distress associated with these voices. […] The therapy has also been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use in the UKs National Health Service (NHS).

• #62 Hearing voices is common and can be distressing. Virtual reality might help us meet and ‘treat’ them

  https://theconversation.com/hearing-voices-is-common-and-can-be-distressing-virtual-reality-might-help-us-meet-and-treat-them-230972

  We are trialling delivering avatar therapy from our specialist voices clinic via telehealth. We are also testing whether avatar therapy is more effective than the current standard therapy for hearing voices, based on cognitive behavioural therapy. […] As only a minority of people with psychosis receive specialist psychological therapy for hearing voices, we hope our trial will support scaling up these new treatments to be available more routinely across the country.

• #63 Auditory Hallucinations in Psychiatric Illness

  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/auditory-hallucinations-psychiatric-illness

  Because cognitive dysfunctions have been shown to underlie auditory hallucinations, cognitive deficits are becoming targets of treatment with cognitive remediation strategies, although these interventions are at a very early stage of development. […] The presence of hallucinations does not necessarily imply a need for medical treatment if the experience is not intrusive and does not interfere with everyday activities. […] Another biological method that has been researched in recent years is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which plays a role in altering neural activity over language cortical regions. Used as an adjunct to antipsychotic medication, studies show that rTMS can reduce the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations in treatment-resistant cases.

• #64 Voluntary control of auditory hallucinations: phenomenology to therapeutic implications | Schizophrenia

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-020-0106-8

  Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) have traditionally been thought to be outside the influence of conscious control. However, recent work with voice hearers makes clear that both treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking voice hearers may exert varying degrees of control over their voices. […] Established relationships between control, health status, and functioning suggest that the development of control over AVH could increase functioning and reduce distress. A more detailed understanding of the discrete types of control, their development, and their neural underpinnings is essential for translating this knowledge into new therapeutic approaches. […] Non-treatment-seeking voice-hearing populations also consistently endorse a higher degree of control over their experiences than their treatment-seeking counterparts.

• #65 Voluntary control of auditory hallucinations: phenomenology to therapeutic implications | Schizophrenia

  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41537-020-0106-8

  The ability of some voice hearers to exercise indirect control by using cognitive strategies to manipulate the impact of voice hearing has served as the basis for cognitive-behavioral approaches to psychosis for several decades. […] The Maastricht Approach, for instance, which involves examining the meaning and origins of the voices and learning to fit them into a coherent life narrative. […] Although intentional manipulation of explanatory frameworks around voice-hearing experiences and with negotiation with voices may form the basis for new psychotherapies aimed at enhancing agency and control in voice hearers, an understanding of the computational and neural underpinnings of direct control may lead to a harnessing of these processes for biological interventions. […] Treatment approaches based upon enhancing control over one’s voices need not conflict with conventional psychiatric treatment. In fact, these strategies may be some of the most viable options for treatment in individuals who suffer from hallucinations but for whom the risks of antipsychotic medications may outweigh the benefits.

• #66 Overview – Psychosis – NHS

  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychosis/overview/

  Treatment for psychosis can depend on the cause, but usually involves a combination of […] antipsychotic medicine which can help relieve the symptoms of psychosis […] talking therapies the 1-to-1 talking therapy cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and family interventions (a form of therapy that may involve partners, family members and close friends) can be helpful […] social support support with social needs, such as education, employment or accommodation. […] Some people are recommended to take antipsychotics on a long-term basis (and possibly for the rest of their lives). Other people may be able to gradually reduce their dosage and then stop taking them altogether if there is a marked improvement in symptoms. […] If a person’s psychotic episodes are severe, they may need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.

• #67 Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Interventions for Psychosis

  https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/brief-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-interventions-psychosis

  Psychiatrists who treat patients with psychosis in institutional, community, and crisis settings provide evaluations and medication management but rarely consider psychotherapeutic interventions. However, such interventions can be critical in recovery. […] Current guidelines recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as evidence-based psychotherapy for schizophrenia. […] CBT for psychosis (CBTp) follows the general principles and approach of therapy for depression and anxiety with some modifications to address positive psychotic symptoms, cognitive deficits, and stigma associated with psychosis. […] Ideally CBTp consists of at least 10 sessions over a 6-month period with specially trained therapists. […] The first step in dealing with hallucinations is a detailed evaluation that includes the triggers, content, beliefs about hallucinations, stigma associated with hallucinations, and behaviors of acting out or resisting command hallucinations.

• #68 Hallucination | Psychology Today

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/hallucination

  Hallucinations can stem from a wide array of underlying conditions, and identifying the root cause is important for developing an effective approach to treatment. […] Treatment for hallucinations aims to target the underlying cause. If the hallucinations are due to schizophrenia or another mental health condition, treatment is typically a combination of talk therapy and antipsychotic medication, such as Risperidone, Olanzapine, or Chlorpromazine. Other causes will yield different treatments; hallucinations due to Parkinsons disease may require an adjustment to one’s medication while hallucinations due to sleep problems may involve implementing healthy sleep habits. […] The most important aspect of treating hallucinations is receiving regular mental health care from a professional. But the following steps may help individuals manage and reduce hallucinations themselves: Keep a diary of the hallucinations to identify and avoid the situations in which they arise.

• #69 Hallucinations: Types, causes, and symptoms

  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327014

  Medication may help ease these symptoms. […] It is sensible to see a doctor following any hallucination, even if there are no other symptoms. It is particularly important to seek medical care if someone with an illness that may cause hallucinations experiences worsening hallucinations or other changes in mood or behavior. […] People with hallucinations and those who love them should track symptoms to measure when the hallucinations happen and whether anything seems to trigger them. This record-keeping can help a doctor better treat their symptoms.

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