Hearing voices : comparing the hearing voices approach with antipsychotic medication in adults

Abstract

Introduction: The most common type of auditory hallucination is voice hearing, with the voice heard being either complimentary or potentially harmful. People who suffer from distressing auditory hallucinations require some type of treatment in order to help them to lead a better life. Objectives: The purpose of this dissertation is to compare the effectiveness of the Hearing Voices Approach as compared to antipsychotic medication in improving the quality of life. Method: The search strategy involved selecting and limiting the search databases to ten, followed by a selection of a comprehensive list of adequate keywords. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were adopted to filter the studies and better reflect the PICO question. Subsequently, a list of selected articles was identified and analysed using the CASP and MMAT appraisal tools. Ethical considerations were also noted. Findings: This study finds that both the Hearing Voices Approach and antipsychotic medication are effective and highly beneficial for people who experience auditory hallucinations. Various dissemination methods of findings are discussed. Conclusion: Due to limited studies comparing these two interventions, it was not possible to conclude which one has the most beneficial outcomes. Future studies with direct comparison of the intervention and comparison treatment are recommended.