Voice Questionnaire Research Articles

Efficacy of intensive voice feminisation therapy in a transgender young offender

Research suggests that transgender young offenders are a uniquely vulnerable caseload that may benefit from speech pathology intervention to help bring their voice into alignment with their gender identity. However, no previous studies have investigated treatment efficacy in this population. This study investigated the impact of intensive voice feminisation therapy targeting fundamental frequency and oral resonance in a 17 year old transgender individual within a youth justice institution. Acoustic analysis, listener and self-ratings of vocal femininity, self-ratings of vocal satisfaction, a post-treatment structured interview, and pre- and post- treatment completion of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQMtF) were utilised to determine treatment impact. Outcome measures indicated therapy was effective at increasing the client’s vocal pitch and perceptually femininity without compromising vocal quality. However, the client was still not consistently perceived as female post-intervention and had difficulty implementing feminine speech strategies in discourse. This case study provides preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of intensive voice feminisation therapy in a youth offending population. This research also highlights the potential utility of speech pathologists working in youth justice settings, even when the timeframe for intervention is limited. Furthermore, this research paper validates the use of perceptual outcome measures in transgender voice work, by replicating previous findings in which significant correlations were found between perceptual ratings of vocal gender and client satisfaction.

Transsukupuolisten naisten äänikyselyn reliabiliteetti ja väittämien selkeys ja sopivuus

Sukupuoltaan korjaavien ihmisten määrä kasvaa Suomessa, ja etenkin miehestä naiseksi korjaavien ihmisten (transnaiset) voi olla vaikea muuttaa puheääntään riittävän naiselliseksi. Vasta muutama vuosi sitten ilmestyi kanadalais-australialaisena yhteistyönä äänikysely The Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals (TVQMtoF), joka suomennettiin tässä tutkimuksessa. Suomennetun version reliabiliteetin arviointi oli tämän tutkimuksen päätavoitteena. Toisena tavoitteena oli arvioida transnaisia haastattelemalla, olivatko kyselyn ilmaukset selkeitä ja sanavalinnoiltaan sopivia. Kyselyn täytti kahdeksan transsukupuolisuus-diagnoosin saanutta naista kaksi kertaa, ja kahdenkeskiseen haastatteluun osallistui viisi transnaista. Tulosten mukaan äänikysely on luotettava: toistomittausreliabiliteetti (0,99) ja kyselyn sisäinen yhdenmukaisuus (Cronbachin α=0,97) olivat korkeita. Yksi kyselyn väittämä ei korreloinut muiden väittämien kanssa, mutta koska sen poisto ei muuttanut oleellisesti kyselyn sisäistä yhdenmukaisuutta, väittämä säilytettiin kyselyssä. Haastattelu paljasti, että kyselyn sanamuotoja kannattaa tarkentaa.

Long-Lasting Voice-Related Symptoms in Patients Without Vocal Cord Palsy After Thyroidectomy.

Some patients complain of long-lasting voice symptoms after thyroid surgery without objective vocal fold pathology. We assessed the factors that may influence voice symptoms more than 12months after thyroidectomy. We performed a retrospective analysis of 68 patients from July 2010 to May 2012. The voices of all patients were analyzed before and after thyroid surgery (2weeks and 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12months after surgery). According to the recovery of postoperative voice symptoms, patients were divided into two groups: the non-recovery group and the recovery group. Voice symptoms were measured using a thyroidectomy-related voice questionnaire (TVQ). We compared voice analysis data for each group and investigated the factors related to long-lasting postoperative voice symptoms. Forty-nine patients were included in the recovery group, and 19 patients were included in the non-recovery group. No differences in sex ratio, tumor size, and surgical extent were found between the groups. However, the proportion of professional voice users (odds ratio 4.121; 95% confidence interval 0.983-17.267; p<0.043) was significantly higher in the non-recovery group. The cutoff score of the TVQ, at 2months after thyroid surgery, for the differentiation of the recovery and non-recovery groups was 25, and the sensitivity and specificity values were 84.2 and 87.8%, respectively. Professional voice users may be presented long-lasting voice symptoms after thyroid surgery. The cutoff TVQ score of 25, at 2months after thyroid surgery, may be a guideline for counseling patients who have voice symptoms.

Adaptation and validation of the VOICES (SF) questionnaire - for evaluation of end-of-life care in Sweden.

Instruments for evaluating end-of-life care by voicing experiences of family members have previously been lacking in Sweden. The objective of this study was therefore to adapt and validate the VOICES (SF) questionnaire to evaluate quality of end-of-life care in Sweden. The VOICES (SF) [Views of Informal Carers - Evaluation of Services (Short form)] is a questionnaire about bereaved relatives' experiences of care in the last three months of life of a deceased family member. This study was performed based on translation and back translation, cross-cultural adaptation and content validation through cognitive interviewing and feedback from professional experts. For the cognitive interviews, a purposeful sample of 35 bereaved family members was recruited from home care, hospital wards and nursing homes. The participants were 13 men and 22 women (age ranged between 20 and 90+, mean age 66), who were relatives of persons who died from life-limiting conditions. The bereaved family members' and the professional experts' concerns were summarised and analysed based on clarity, understanding, relevance, sensitivity and alternative response/wording. The main concerns emerging from the content validation related to the understanding and clarity of some of the questionnaire items', and a few concerns regarding the relevance of different response alternatives or items. Only two of the family members found it emotional to complete the questionnaire, and they still deemed completing it to be important and manageable. The VOICES (SF) can be considered as feasible in the Swedish context, provided that cultural adaptation has been achieved, that is translation alone is not enough. The Swedish version will be available for healthcare professionals to use for quality monitoring of the care provided over the last three months in life, and for research, it enables national and cross-national comparisons between different healthcare places and organisations.

The Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire – Revised: A factor structure from 450 participants

Hallucinated voices are common across psychiatric and non-clinical groups. The predominant cognitive theory about the impact of voices posits that beliefs about voice power (‘Omnipotence’) and voice intent (‘Malevolence’/‘Benevolence’) play a key role in determining emotional and behavioral reactions. The revised Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ-R) was designed to assess these constructs, together with two styles of responding (Engagement and Resistance). The BAVQ-R is widely used in clinical and research settings, yet it has not received validation of its constructs and factor structure. This study examined the factor structure of the BAVQ-R by combining datasets from five study centers, comprising 450 participants (belief constructs) and 269 participants (response styles), and using confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. Findings failed to support a three factor belief model, instead showing a two-factor structure (‘Persecutory beliefs’ combining Omnipotence and Malevolence constructs, and a Benevolent construct). Emotional and behavioral items did not separate. Overall, results showed that (i) a two-factor model of beliefs (Persecutory and Benevolent beliefs) provides a better fit to the data than a three-factor model, and (ii) emotional and behavioral modes of responding items should not be separated. Theoretical implications of this finding are discussed in relation to the research and therapy.

Auditory feature perception and auditory hallucinatory experiences in schizophrenia spectrum disorder.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SZ) is associated with deficits in auditory perception as well as auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). However, the relationship between auditory feature perception and auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), one of the most commonly occurring symptoms in psychosis, has not been well characterized. This study evaluated perception of a broad range of auditory features in SZ and determined whether current AVHs relate to auditory feature perception. Auditory perception, including frequency, intensity, duration, pulse-train and temporal order discrimination, as well as an embedded tone task, was assessed in both AVH (n=20) and non-AVH (n=24) SZ individuals and in healthy controls (n=29) with the Test of Basic Auditory Capabilities (TBAC). The Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire (HPSVQ) was used to assess the experience of auditory hallucinations in patients with SZ. Findings suggest that compared to controls, the SZ group had greater deficits on an array of auditory features, with non-AVH SZ individuals showing the most severe degree of abnormality. IQ and measures of cognitive processing were positively associated with performance on the TBAC for all SZ individuals, but not with the HPSVQ scores. These findings indicate that persons with SZ demonstrate impaired auditory perception for a broad range of features. It does not appear that impaired auditory perception is associated with recent auditory verbal hallucinations, but instead associated with the degree of intellectual impairment in SZ.

Validation of a modified VOICES survey to measure end-of-life care quality: the CaregiverVoice survey

BackgroundMeasuring the care experience at end-of-life (EOL) to inform quality improvement is a priority in many countries. We validated the CaregiverVoice survey, a modified version of the VOICES questionnaire, completed by bereaved caregivers to capture perceptions of care received in the last three months of a patient’s life.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective survey of bereaved caregivers representing palliative care patients who died in a residential hospice and/or received palliative homecare in Ontario, Canada. Statistical analyses were completed to establish construct and concurrent validity, as well as reliability of the survey.ResultsResponses were obtained from 906 caregivers: 330 surveyed from homecare agencies and 576 from hospices. The CaregiverVoice survey demonstrated concurrent validity in scores correlating to FAMCARE2 items, and construct validity in performing according to expected patterns, e.g., correlation of scores to qualitative perceptions and significant variability based on care contexts such as place of death and setting of care (p < 0.01). Reliability was exhibited in good inter-item correlation of ratings for specific care settings and no significant differences in ratings regardless of whether up to a year had passed since death of patient.ConclusionsThe CaregiverVoice survey demonstrated validity and reliability in the populations assessed. This survey represents one common measure that can be standardized across multiple care settings and is useful for assessing the care experience that can help inform local and national quality improvement activities.

Mindfulness of voices, self-compassion, and secure attachment in relation to the experience of hearing voices.

ObjectivesDeveloping compassion towards oneself has been linked to improvement in many areas of psychological well‐being, including psychosis. Furthermore, developing a non‐judgemental, accepting way of relating to voices is associated with lower levels of distress for people who hear voices. These factors have also been associated with secure attachment. This study explores associations between the constructs of mindfulness of voices, self‐compassion, and distress from hearing voices and how secure attachment style related to each of these variables.DesignCross‐sectional online.MethodOne hundred and twenty‐eight people (73% female; M age = 37.5; 87.5% Caucasian) who currently hear voices completed the Self‐Compassion Scale, Southampton Mindfulness of Voices Questionnaire, Relationships Questionnaire, and Hamilton Programme for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire.ResultsResults showed that mindfulness of voices mediated the relationship between self‐compassion and severity of voices, and self‐compassion mediated the relationship between mindfulness of voices and severity of voices. Self‐compassion and mindfulness of voices were significantly positively correlated with each other and negatively correlated with distress and severity of voices.ConclusionMindful relation to voices and self‐compassion are associated with reduced distress and severity of voices, which supports the proposed potential benefits of mindful relating to voices and self‐compassion as therapeutic skills for people experiencing distress by voice hearing.Practitioner points Greater self‐compassion and mindfulness of voices were significantly associated with less distress from voices. These findings support theory underlining compassionate mind training.Mindfulness of voices mediated the relationship between self‐compassion and distress from voices, indicating a synergistic relationship between the constructs.Although the current findings do not give a direction of causation, consideration is given to the potential impact of mindful and compassionate approaches to voices.

Negative Beliefs about Voices in Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder Are Associated with Distress: A Plea for Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy?

Background: Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are experienced by 21-54% of patients diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder (BPD), and ensuing distress is often high. Little is known about the beliefs these patients foster about their voices, and the influence thereof on distress and need for hospitalisation. Methods: In a convenience sample of 38 BPD outpatients with AVH, data were collected with the aid of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS), Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ), Social Comparison Rating Scale (SCRS), and Voice Power Differential Scale (VPDS). Results: The majority of patients with BPD who experience AVH rate their voices as malevolent and omnipotent, and higher in social rank than themselves. Moreover, their resistance against them tends to be high. These parameters correlate positively and significantly with high levels of distress experienced in relation to these AVH. The need for hospitalisation, in turn, is associated with high scores for omnipotence of the voices and distress due to AVH. However, these findings could not be confirmed in regression analyses. Conclusions: As negative beliefs can be altered with cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), we expect CBT to be beneficial in the treatment of AVH in BPD patients, whether or not in combination with antipsychotic medication.

Self‐perception of voice in transgender persons during cross‐sex hormone therapy

Self-perception of voice has a significant psychosocial impact on transgender persons. Research about the evolution of self-perception of voice during cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine if self-perception of voice changes during CSHT, and if a change of serum testosterone levels as a result of CSHT can predict a change of self-perception of voice. Prospective longitudinal study. The Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQ), consisting of three factors-anxiety and avoidance (AA), gender identity (GI), and voice quality (VQ)-was used. Transgender persons completed the TVQ at baseline (80 trans men and 103 trans women), after 3 and 12 months of CSHT follow-up. Trans men: From 0 to 3 months, 0 to 12 months, and 3 to 2 months of CSHT, the AA and GI scores improved. From 0 to 3 months of CSHT, the increasing testosterone level was predictive for the improvements of AA and GI scores. Trans women: From 0 to 3 months, the GI score improved. From 0 to 12 months, the AA, GI, and VQ scores improved. Improvements of self-perception of voice could not be predicted by changing serum testosterone levels. During CSHT, self-perception of voice improves in both trans men and trans women. In trans men only, the improving self-perception of voice during the first 3 months can be attributed to the CSHT. For trans women, this study supports that testosterone has acted irreversibly virializing to the voice before CSHT, if they already went through male puberty. 4. Laryngoscope, 127:2796-2804, 2017.

Facilitating Chinese EFL Learners’ Critical Thinking Skills: The Contributions of Teaching Strategies

Many teaching strategies have been used to promote the development of critical thinking skills, among which the most frequently used are group discussion, concept mapping, and analytical questioning. The study aims to explore learners’ voice and learning experience in the pedagogical contributions of these strategies to the development of critical thinking skills in Chinese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners. One full university class was chosen as the sample in the instruction of critical thinking skills and to take part in a learner voice survey, among which 15 participants were chosen by purposeful sampling for semistructured interviews. The instruction of critical thinking was embedded in an English reading class by using the three teaching strategies, during which four interviews were conducted for each critical thinking skill. After the instruction of critical thinking skills was completed, all participants were surveyed with the learner voice questionnaire. The results show that participants thought the three teaching strategies could improve critical thinking skills. Each teaching strategy made unique and specific contributions to the development of critical thinking skills. These findings have pedagogical implications for using these teaching strategies in the instruction of critical thinking skills in Chinese EFL learners.

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Preliminary Evaluation of the Spanish Version of the Transgender Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals (TVQ MtF)

This study aimed to perform translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and validation of the Spanish version of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-Female Transsexuals (TVQ MtF). This is a prospective study. The study was conducted by the Gender Identity Unit and the Voice Unit of a tertiary hospital referral center for surgical feminization of the voice. The study had two parts: translation and adaptation of the TVQ MtF with the following actions: translation (with authorization and consensus of the authors of the original questionnaire), back-translation, pretesting, and final version; and preliminary study of the psychometric properties (feasibility, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct validity, discriminant validity, and ceiling and floor effects). Thirty male-to-female transsexual women filled out the questionnaire, and 18 of the 30 filled out the questionnaire approximately 2 weeks after filling it out for the first time. Feasibility was 100%. Cronbach α was 0.976. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.885. The Spearman correlation coefficient between TVQ MtF and the physical component of SF-12 v2 was 0.102 (P value = 0.592) and between TVQ MtF and the mental component was -0.263 (P value = 0.161). A ceiling effect was not found. A floor effect was found in two questionnaires (6.7%). Feasibility, internal consistency, and reliability outcomes in our study support the validity of the authorized Spanish version of the TVQ MtF.

Long-term Evaluation of Type 2 Thyroplasty with Titanium Bridges for Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia.

Objectives Standard treatments of adductor spasmodic dysphonia (AdSD) provide temporary relief of symptoms. Type 2 thyroplasty offers a long-term solution; however, long-term voice outcome data are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term voice outcomes of type 2 thyroplasty with titanium bridges through use of a validated voice questionnaire. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting University hospital. Subjects and Methods Forty-seven consecutively enrolled patients with AdSD underwent type 2 thyroplasty with titanium bridges between August 2006 and November 2014. Questionnaires were completed during regularly scheduled follow-ups and, in some cases, were sent to patients who missed follow-up appointments. In 2015, questionnaires were mailed to all 47 patients and included a Voice Handicap Index-10 evaluation, as well as questions on postoperative vocal symptoms, surgical site, and status of the implanted titanium bridges. Results Of 47 patients with AdSD, 31 (66%) completed the questionnaires. The average follow-up interval was 41.3 months. No patient reported experiencing an adverse event around the surgical site, and almost all were satisfied with their voices postoperatively. The mean postoperative (>3 years) Voice Handicap Index-10 score improved significantly, from 26.3 to 9.4 (n = 17, P = .0009). Conclusions Type 2 thyroplasty for AdSD significantly improved patient quality of life and voice symptoms and continued to do so long after the surgery. The results of this study suggest that type 2 thyroplasty provides relief from vocal symptoms in patients with AdSD for >3 years.

COGNITIVE THERAPY: A REALITY ORIENTATION MODEL FOR MENTAL ILLNESS PATIENTS THAT EXPERIENCED AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS

This research aim was to develop a model of reality orientation therapy on patients with schizophrenia who had auditory hallucinations. This design of the study was a sequential exploratory research which combines qualitative and quantitative approach. Respondents in this study were patients with schizophrenia who experience auditory hallucinations. Ten respondents who met the criteria were used as a population target in trials of therapeutic procedures. Five nurses who have experience treating patients in a mental hospital established as an expert on trial of instrument development.Initially, the contents of the hallucinations were identified using "Beliefs about the Voices Questionnaire (BaVQ)" through interviews, and then were analysed using thematic analysis. The results of the analysis were the themes that used to develop a reality orientation therapy procedure. The procedure was applied for one month, three times every week for the respondents. Evaluation of treatment programs to the target population was evaluated using an anxiety scale and evaluation of instrument therapy using a content validity test which includes the step of designing, testing, validation, verification, and final validation.The content validity test illustrated that application of reality orientation therapy had been developed from verification until final validation. The level of the patient's anxiety was statistically significant 1,078 (P 0.309). It can be concluded that there was no difference between the patient's anxiety before and after cognitive therapy reality orientation. Key words: Cognitive therapy orientation reality, nursing intervention, auditory hallucination.

Exploring the validity of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (male-to-female): Do TVQMtF scores differentiate between MtF women who have had gender reassignment surgery and those who have not?

ABSTRACTThe recently developed Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQMtF) is a self-report tool that assesses the perceptions of male-to-female transsexual women (MtF women) regarding their voices and the impact of voice on their everyday lives. Initial psychometric evaluation has demonstrated strong reliability of the TVQMtF, however, there has been relatively little investigation of its validity. There is evidence in the literature to support the notion that MtF women who have undergone gender reassignment surgery (GRS) have different perceptions of their voice than MtF women who have not undergone GRS. This information was used to examine the validity of the TVQMtF using a known-groups analysis. Method: The TVQMtF scores of 26 MtF women who had undergone GRS were compared with the scores of 27 MtF women who had not undergone GRS. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the total TVQMtF scores. Mann Whitney U tests were used for comparison across individual items. Results: Individuals who had undergone GRS perceived that they experienced fewer voice-related difficulties and impacts on their lives than individuals who had not undergone GRS. This difference was significant (F(1, 51) = 8.87, p = .004). MtF women who had undergone GRS reported less impact of voice on their gender identity, however, perceived impact of vocal-functioning and voice-related activity and participation limitations did not differ between groups. The study findings support the construct validity of the TVQMtF.

Further Evidence of the Construct Validity of the Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQMtF) Using Principal Components Analysis

The Transsexual Voice Questionnaire (TVQMtF) is a population-specific self-report tool designed to capture the perceptions of male-to-female transsexual women (MtF women) regarding their vocal functioning and the voice-related impact on their everyday life. The aim of this study was to further the psychometric evaluation of the TVQMtF by examining its construct validity and confirming its reliability. This is a prospective validity and reliability study. One hundred fifty-one MtF women provided data for principal components analysis with oblimin rotation. Data from 133 of these participants were also analyzed to evaluate the internal consistency of the TVQMtF. Principal components analysis identified a two-factor structure. The largest component (accounting for 51.99% of the variance) captured individuals' perceptions of their vocal functioning and included items related to the link between voice and gender identity. This component was labeled vocal functioning. The second component (5.82% of the variance) contained items that related to the impact of voice on the individual's participation in everyday life and was labeled social participation. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's α = .97). The findings support the construct validity of the TVQMtF. Additionally, the high internal consistency of the TVQMtF found in the current study confirms that the content of the TVQMtF reliably measures the self-perceptions of MtF women regarding their voice. The current findings also support the clinical utility of the TVQMtF providing a means of organizing TVQMtF responses to inform the voice training process.

Transsexual Voice Questionnaire for Male-to-female Brazilian Transsexual People

The aim of the study was to verify the answers to the transsexual voice questionnaire for male-to-female transsexual (TVQMtF) people given to individuals who participated in the Gender Identity Program (PROTIG) at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, in relation to some of their demographic characteristics, visual-perceptual evaluations of the face, laryngeal prominence, and auditoryperceptual judgments of voice. In this cross-sectional study, 47 transsexual women aged between 18 and 50 responded to the (TVQMtF). The demographic data and perceptual ratings were selected from the PROTIG database. Among all participants, 55.32% had completed secondary education, and 72.34% had not undergone a sex reassignment surgery; 4.2% of subjects did not use hormones, 23.40% had undergone speech therapy, the average number of years of experience in the female role was 13.98 years, and the participants had been definitively cross-dressing for 5-34 years. Most of the participants had low scores on the (TVQMtF), and significant differences in the total score were observed in accordance with age (higher scores were observed among those <30 years and ≥40 years old) and visual-perceptual evaluations of the face (higher scores were observed in the individual evaluated with masculine face). There were no significant correlations between the total score obtained by the participants and the other demographic variables. Although most of the participants had low scores on the (TVQMtF), some individuals were still experiencing distress due to being perceived as being of the opposite sex or were dissatisfied with their voices.

End-of-life care in residential care homes: a retrospective study of the perspectives of family members using the VOICES questionnaire.

In Europe, residential care homes (RCHs) are replacing hospitals as the place where death occurs, and they play an important role in end-of-life (EOL) care. The aim was to describe the quality of care during the last 3 months and last 3 days of life of those who died in RCHs as reported by family members. We also investigated whether there were differences in the EOL care of younger patients (<85 years) vs. the oldest old patients (≥85 years) as reported by family members. A retrospective survey design. Deaths (n = 189) at 19 RCHs in one municipality in Sweden were included. Family members were sent the VOICES questionnaire 1 month after their elderly relative had died. Descriptive statistics were used. In the last 3 days before death, most family members reported there was enough help with nursing (93%) and personal care (78.5%). Among the family members, 86% were told that the resident was likely to die shortly. Most (94.1%) of residents were reported to have died at their preferred place. No significant difference was found between age groups. Family members also reported that about half of the elderly had pain (46.5%) and 86.4% received treatment; 55.9% had breathlessness and 39.7% received treatment. Breathlessness was significantly (p = 0.01) more common in the younger group, and they were treated more often (p = 0.006) than the oldest old. This study revealed an overall positive picture of personal and nursing care and communication. These findings indicate that the quality of EOL care at RCHs is high. Inadequate management was found for symptom relief the last days of life. This suggests that this subject merits further attention by care professionals. To achieve better quality of EOL care at RCHs, we emphasise the importance of systematically working to improve symptom relief.

Effectiveness of Brief Individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for auditory hallucinations in a sample of Egyptian patients with schizophrenia

BackgroundAuditory hallucination is one of the most common symptoms in schizophrenia. The frequency of the auditory hallucinations and ensuing distress make the individual believe that these voices are not able to be controlled and to be coped with.AimTesting the effectiveness of brief cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBTp) for auditory hallucinations, using it in modifying the beliefs about the voices and improving symptom severity and overall functioning.MethodsForty participants with schizophrenia were randomized into intervention and control groups. Intervention group were 20 patients who received 8 individual sessions of CBTp plus Treatment As Usual (TAU) over 8 weeks and the control group were the other 20 patients who received TAU only. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Arabic version of Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ) and the General Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study.ResultsIntervention group showed a statistically significant increase in GAF (P = 0.012), a statistically significant reduction regarding the Positive (P &lt; 0.001), Negative (P = 0.008), General (P &lt; 00.001) and total (P ≤ 00.001) sub-scales of PANSS. Regarding BAVQ, Intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in Malevolence (P = 0.008), Engagement (P = 0.001); and showed a statistically significant increase in Resistance (P = 0.049) compared to control.ConclusionsBrief cognitive behavioral therapy for auditory hallucinations can improve severity of schizophrenia, increase the level of functioning and improve the beliefs about the voices.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Evaluation of the effect of schizophrenia patients' beliefs about their auditory hallucination on the disease

Objective: In schizophrenia, auditory hallucinations and their interpretations by the patients are thought to effect the life quality, functionality, self-esteem of the patient and the course of the disease. From this point forth, in our study we aimed to evaluate the effect of the beliefs of schizophrenia patients about their auditory hallucinations, on the duration of the disease, the life quality and self-esteem of the patients. Methods: Seventy patients staying in the inpatient clinics of Bakirkoy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman for Psychiatric, Neurosurgery and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital who are diagnosed as schizophrenia according to DSM-IV-TR, are enrolled into the study. Patients are assessed through sociodemographic data form, Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Life Quality Scale in Schizophrenia. Results: 34.3% of the patients that are enrolled into the study have positive beliefs and 65.7% have negative beliefs about their auditory hallucinations. Disease duration is 7.2 years for the patients who had positive beliefs and 10 years for the patients who have negative beliefs. Treatment noncompliance or irregular drug usage is found as 29.2% in patients with positive beliefs and treatment noncompliance or irregular drug usage is found as 60.8% in patients with negative beliefs about their hallucinations. In our study; 87.5% of the patients, who have positive beliefs, have high self-esteem, on the other hand; only 8.7% of the patients who have negative beliefs about their hallucinations, have high self-esteem. As we go through the life quality scale, the mean score in the positive believer group is 87.5 and in the negative believer group the mean score is 52.5. Conclusion: In our study it’s found that, in schizophrenia patients, positive beliefs about auditory hallucinations are related with shorter duration of the disease, higher self-esteem, higher quality of life and more compliance to the treatment.