1. Guided self-help cognitive-behaviour intervention for voices (GiVE): Results from a pilot randomised controlled trial
The GiVE study involved consultations with clinicians and people who hear voices to develop a brief, intervention based upon the ‘overcoming distressing voices’ self-help book. The team developed a workbook to guide participants through an eight-session intervention with opportunities to get involved in cognitive behavioural therapy-based self-help activities.
Data has been analysed and has found that GiVE is helpful in significantly reducing the distress caused by voices.
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Patient feedback:
“The therapy was brilliant and so very helpful. It's altered the way I think and react to hearing voices."
2. Mindfulness for voices (M4V)
Group mindfulness-based intervention for distressing voices: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial (completed).
Being distressed by hearing voices (‘auditory hallucinations’) is common for people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy offered on a one to one basis is the recommended treatment, but is rarely available in practice. One solution is to offer therapy in groups so patients can receive therapy at the same time. In 2008, a pilot study (funded by Heads On, Sussex Partnership’s charity) led by Professor Paul Chadwick and Dr Mark Hayward, assessed the effectiveness of a group therapy for voices that combined mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapy. The results suggested the therapy was beneficial. However, pilot studies often show benefits that can’t be replicated in studies with more rigorous methodologies. Consequently, the research team needed to evaluate the therapy further and successfully applied to the Department of Health’s National Institute for Health Research to fund a randomised controlled trial. 108 patients took part in this. Half of the patients received the group therapy and their usual care, and the other half received only their usual care (the control). The results indicated that the therapy can reduce the distress caused by voices, enhance mood, improve personal control and promote recovery. However, some of the findings were not maintained over the follow-up period of six months, suggesting that further work needs to be done to strengthen the benefits.
“I am delighted we can offer this innovative therapy to our patients within the Voices Clinic so soon after the conclusion of the study. We would not be able to do this without the support of many people who have helped us to develop this therapy within Sussex Partnership.” Dr Mark Hayward, Sussex Voices Clinic Director.
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Patient feedback:
"I took part in the study to learn new skills and to be better equipped to manage daily symptoms associated to experiencing hearing voices, for both personal and professional benefit". Jo, M4V participant.
“I got to mix with other people. It was bonding and understanding other people’s problems and the exercises were excellent. It helps me to shut the voices out when I do the exercises. It taught me I’m not alone with the problem and I can help myself.” James, M4V participant.
3. Relating to voices: relating therapy for distressing auditory hallucinations (R2V)
The Relating to Voices (R2V) study looked at the effect of relating therapy for people who experience distressing voices. Auditory hallucinations are a common and distressing experience and patients report distress reduction to be a priority. Relating therapy adopts a symptom-specific and mechanism-focused approach to the reduction of auditory hallucinations distress. Participants were randomly allocated to receive therapy or to be part of the control group.
The therapy offered 16 weeks of individual psychological therapy to help participants to relate and respond differently to their voices and other people in their social lives. The distress caused by these relationships is often maintained by the passive and/or aggressive responses of the participant. Relating therapy teaches people to relate assertively, standing-up for themselves, whilst respecting the needs of others.
Dr Mark Hayward and Dr Clara Strauss led the study and were part of the team that delivered the therapy. The study finished in 2015.
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4. Voice impact scale (VIS)
There are several psychological therapies that we know can be helpful for people who hear distressing voices - many of these therapies are currently on offer within the Voices Clinic. More research is needed on the ways in which these therapies are helpful so that they can be made more readily available in the NHS. We have ways of measuring whether these therapies help people to feel less depressed, less anxious, and feel better about themselves - but we do not have a comprehensive way of measuring the impact that voices have on people, and whether psychological therapies can improve this.
We have developed a questionnaire, with help from researchers, clinicians, and people who hear voices themselves, that we think can accurately measure the impact of voices on the person hearing them.
To request a copy of the Voice Impact Scale contact Clara Strauss: clara.strauss@nhs.net.
5. Use of smartphones for coping therapy
This project is a collaboration between local researchers (Sarah Fielding-Smith and Dr Mark Hayward) and researchers at the Voices Clinic in Swinburne, Australia. The project will evaluated if smartphones could enhance the benefit of the Level 1 coping therapy. Patients were given a smartphone at the beginning of therapy and asked to enter data about their voice-hearing experiences when prompted by the phone. The data generated by the patient can be used in the therapy sessions to provide accurate information about the patient’s current coping strategies. The success of any adapted strategies can also be accurately captured and assessed.
This study details how digital technologies such as EMA/I may be used in future as clinical tools to enhance therapy, and demonstrated support for the clinical utility of the integration of smartphone EMA/I with traditional face-to-face therapy for improving coping with distressing voices.
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