A study of hallucination management of residual schizophrenia by hallucination focused integrative treatment

Pages: 441-444
Selvam, V.S. (Narayana Medical Colletge and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh)

This study was aimed at finding out the efficacy of Hallucination Focused Integrative Treatment (HIT) on patients suffering from Residual schizophrenia who still experience hallucinations. A number of schizophrenic patients experience hallucinations and some of them do not respond to conventional anti-psychotic medication. Recently there has been growing interest in the application of Cognitive Behavioral intervention for the management of psychotic symptoms with a view to enhancing coping skills and to normalize psychotic experiences. Ongoing research suggests that persons suffering from drug resistant chronic hallucination respond to HIT. The present study sample consisted of 30 subjects suffering from Residual Schizophrenia between 20 to 50 years of age. They were diagnosed as Residual Schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria. Initially the symptoms were rated with various rating scales. Thereafter, they underwent HIT. The HIT package consisted of Psycho-education, Distraction Techniques, Focusing Techniques and Cognitive Behavioral Techniques. Each patient had 18 sessions spread over a period of 2 months. After the therapy the effect of HIT was assessed by the same rating scales. The findings showed improvements in Positive symptoms, Negative symptoms and General Psychopathology. There was reduction in intensity of hallucinations besides improvement in their Social, Occupational and Psychological Spheres.