Exploring the Experiences of Three Management Strategies in Auditory Hallucinations in Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

Saturday, 29 July 2017

Chao-Hsin Chen, MSN
Information School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to clarify the experience of auditory hallucination symptoms in chronic schizophrenia patients who using auditory hallucination management strategies. Therefore, this study uses three management strategies including listening music, concentrating and talking to someone in order to understand the experience of the patients.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study and using group therapy to understand the experience of employing auditory hallucination management strategies in patients. A total of 13 chronic schizophrenia patients who with auditory hallucination from a psychiatric hospital in the Northern Taiwan were included in the study. In addition, the group of 8 to 12 patients who met once a week, each time is 50 to 60 minutes and a total is 12 times.

Results:

Content analysis of the interview scripts showed two main themes: (1) the experience of auditory hallucination symptoms from the past to present, including content: vocal and non-vocal voice, timing: stress, isolation, doing nothing and mood, identification: doubtfulness and verification and coping strategies: engagement and extrication; (2) the effect of management strategies, which include prerequisite: medication adherence and fitness, appropriation: involvement, diversification and preoccupation and after auditory hallucination appeared and difficulty factor: limitations. In accordance with the contents and the types of auditory hallucination symptoms, which divided into the small themes to discuss and analysis. More than half of patients believe that the hallucination management strategies used in life can reduce the effect of auditory hallucination symptoms and improve the quality of life.

Conclusion:

According to the results, were recommended that chronic schizophrenia patients who have auditory hallucination symptoms can use auditory hallucination management strategies to enhance the skill of symptom management and rehabilitation motivation. Therefore, this study can be used as a reference for clinical nursing programs to increase the knowledge and understanding of patients who have auditory hallucination symptoms. Furthermore, it can assist patients with chronic schizophrenia in reducing the effect of auditory hallucination symptoms and promoting patients' quality of life.