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Trauma-focused imaginal exposure for #hearingvoices. A case series out today from @voicesclinic by @rachelmbrand. Large impact on voices at follow-up, with some voices fully gone, but effects varied for individuals. Open access (thread 1/5) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/papt.12284
Project with input from @AmybHardy, Sarah Bendall ( @orygen_aus) and @RossellSusan. The therapy was based on the idea that voices may reflect trauma-related memories. We worked with ppl who saw a link btwn their voices and a trauma. 2/5
The therapy, used in PTSD, involved processing the traumatic memories to observe the effect on voices. Voices reduced on average after therapy, with a large estimated average effect (d=0.99). In 15 people, 2 said their voices had completely gone 1 month after therapy. 3/5
However as in PTSD therapy, the therapy was hard - all reported experiencing therapy as stressful, and whilst most said it was manageable, some clients said they found it difficult to manage. We discuss these different outcomes in detail in this paper https://aps.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/cp.12202 4/5
These preliminary findings are useful in establishing proof-of-concept that therapy for trauma can reduce #hearingvoices. However a larger controlled study would be needed to determine efficacy of this way of working 5/5
