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Published on: January 25, 2016
Relating Therapy for distressing auditory hallucinations: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Mark Hayward1, Anna-Marie Jones2, Leanne Bogen-Johnston2
1School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RH, United Kingdom.
Relating Therapy significantly reduced distress from auditory hallucinations (AH). This pilot study suggests RT may be effective, warranting further investigation in larger trials for persistent AH.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Auditory hallucinations (AH) are a common and distressing symptom in various mental health conditions.
- Patients prioritize reducing distress associated with AH.
- Existing treatments may not sufficiently address AH-related distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of Relating Therapy (RT) as an adjunct to Treatment-as-Usual (TAU) for reducing distress in individuals with persistent and distressing AH.
- To evaluate RT's impact on auditory hallucination distress using a symptom-specific, mechanism-focused approach.
Main Methods:
- A single-blind, pragmatic, parallel-group, superiority pilot Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) was conducted.
- Participants (18+ years) with persistent, distressing AH were randomized to receive either RT + TAU or TAU alone.
- The primary outcome was the 5-item Distress scale of the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale - Auditory Hallucinations (PSYRATS-AHRS) at 16 weeks.
Main Results:
- Twenty-nine patients were randomized; 25 provided complete data.
- Relating Therapy (RT) demonstrated reductions in AH distress compared to TAU, with large effect sizes observed at 16 and 36 weeks.
- The primary outcome measure showed significant distress reduction in the RT group.
Conclusions:
- Relating Therapy shows promise as an effective intervention for reducing distress associated with auditory hallucinations.
- Findings support the need for a larger, phase 3 trial to confirm these results and provide a precise estimate of RT's efficacy.
- RT offers a potential new therapeutic avenue for individuals experiencing distressing auditory hallucinations.

