The phenomenology of auditory verbal hallucinations among clients with schizophrenia: The association with acceptance and autonomous action responses.
Ayman Mohamed El-Ashry, Eman Sameh Abd Elhay, Mona Metwally El-Sayed
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing May 5, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2023.04.025 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Descriptive correlational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 200 |
| Population | Clients with schizophrenia |
| Measures | Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS-AH), Voices Acceptance and Action Scale (VAAS) |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Humans Hallucinations Learning Schizophrenia Acceptance Auditory hallucination Autonomous actions |
| Key points | Among 200 clients with schizophrenia, most had moderate to severe auditory verbal hallucinations (95.5%), and greater acceptance of and autonomous action toward voices was associated with lower AVH severity (correlation -0.448; adjusted r square 0.196). The authors argue that acceptance and autonomous action responses, rather than resistance or engagement, can reduce the severity of AVH phenomenology and should be taught by psychiatric nurses using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. |
Abstract
Background: Living with the experience of hearing voices without trying to ignore or suppress them is referred to as accepting auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). It varies depending on the phenomenology of AVH itself; some clients may find it challenging to acquire new coping mechanisms with the voices.
Aim: Examine the association between the phenomenology of AVH and acceptance or autonomous action among clients with schizophrenia.
Design: A descriptive correlational study was conducted on 200 clients with schizophrenia using the following instruments; Sociodemographic and clinical data tools, Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS-AH), and Voices Acceptance and Action Scale (VAAS).
Results: Most patients have moderate to severe levels of AVH (95.5 %), with a mean score of 25.34. The emotional characteristics reflected the high mean score (11.24). A highly statistically negative correlation was found between the total Voices Acceptance and Action Scale and severity of AVH (P = -0.448, sig = 0.000). A predictable significant effect of user acceptance and autonomous actions response coping with decreasing the severity of AVH was found (adjusted r square = 0.196, sig = 0.000) and model equation = Severity of Verbal auditory hallucinations = 31.990-0.257 X Total of Voice Acceptance and Autonomous Action Scale (VAAS).
Conclusion: The severity of all phenomenological characteristics of AVH can be successfully reduced by using voice acceptance and autonomous action responses rather than resistance or engagement responses. Subsequently, it must be improved and learned by psychiatric nurses the patients with schizophrenia in the hospitals by applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a crucial intervention.