Psychological Interventions Targeting Auditory Hallucinations in Persons With Psychotic Disorders

How efficacious are psychological and psychosocial interventions specifically targeting auditory hallucinations (AHs) in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs), and are there any efficacy differences between therapeutic approaches?In this systematic review and meta-analysis including 23 studies and 2016 individuals, psychological and psychosocial interventions targeting AHs in SSDs were associated with significant reductions in AH severity at posttreatment and follow-up compared with controls, with small to moderate effect sizes. Subgroup analyses revealed that avatar therapy was the most effective among the included approaches.Based on the findings in this study, clinicians should consider augmenting pharmacological treatments for persons with AHs and SSDs with psychological and psychosocial interventions specifically targeting AHs, with avatar therapy showing the most promise among the included approaches.

Corresponding Author: Laura Fässler, MSc, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany (laura.faessler@charite.de).

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