Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Techniques in Reducing Auditory Hallucination among Clients with Chronic Schizophrenia

AIM: To find out the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral techniques in reducing auditory hallucinations among clients with chronic schizophrenia. METHOD: Baseline and outcome measures of auditory hallucination were determined through PSYRATS scale for evaluation of Auditory Hallucination. The subjects were divided in to experimental and control group. The cognitive behavioral techniques were implemented to experimental group through twelve sessions along with medications. The control group only received medications alone during the same period. They were evaluated using PSYRATS scale for evaluation of Auditory Hallucination. RESULTS: The experimental group showed reduction in auditory hallucinations after regular cognitive behavioral techniques intervention. But after two week interval period in second post test auditory hallucination was again increased. After reemphasizing again, in third post test there was mild reduction in auditory hallucination, but not as much as in first posttest. The final post test after three month interval period showed again increase in auditory hallucination. CONCLUSION: Cognitive behavioral techniques were effective in reducing auditory hallucination and the effect was short lived. When individual based cognitive behavioral techniques were given regularly for chronic schizophrenic patients, it was found to be effective in reducing auditory hallucination