Effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting for Trauma‐Affected Voice Hearers: An Open Trial

Laura Strachan; Peter McEvoy; Arnoud Arntz; Craig Steel; Georgie Paulik

doi:10.1002/cpp.3052

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Effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting for Trauma‐Affected Voice Hearers: An Open Trial

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting for Trauma‐Affected Voice Hearers: An Open Trial

Laura Strachan, Peter McEvoy, Arnoud Arntz, Craig Steel and Georgie Paulik

Clinical psychology and psychotherapy, Vol.31(5), e3052

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.3052

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Abstract

Objective People who hear voices (auditory verbal hallucinations) often have post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) have yielded inconsistent findings when treating voices and PTSD symptoms in voice hearers. Preliminary evidence suggests imagery rescripting (ImRs) is associated with large reductions in voice hearing and PTSD symptoms. This study replicated past studies using a larger sample to examine the effectiveness of ImRs in reducing such symptoms. Method Participants ( N = 49; 65.3% female; M age = 35.86) were clients at an Australian transdiagnostic clinic for voice hearers. A one‐arm open trial design was used with three pre‐treatment baselines and a mid‐treatment, post‐treatment and 3‐month follow up assessments of PTSD symptoms (Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM‐5), voices (Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire) and emotional symptoms (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales‐21). Five single‐item measures were administered weekly to explore the trajectories of change in trauma intrusions, voice‐related distress, voice frequency and positive and negative voice valance. Results ImRs was associated with very large reductions in PTSD symptoms and voices (both emotional and physical characteristics of voices) and emotional symptoms at post‐treatment and follow‐up (η 2 p = 0.24–0.44). There were medium‐large to large reductions in weekly symptoms of intrusions, voice‐related distress, voice frequency and negative voices (η 2 p = 0.12–0.16) and a non‐significant increase in positive voices (η 2 p = 0.05). Conclusions This study provides further evidence that ImRs is an effective treatment for voices and PTSD symptoms in voice hearers with a range of diagnoses. Randomised controlled trials are needed to compare the efficacy of ImRs to CBT protocols.

Details

Title: Effectiveness of Imagery Rescripting for Trauma‐Affected Voice Hearers: An Open Trial
Authors/Creators: Laura Strachan - Curtin University
Peter McEvoy - Curtin University
Arnoud Arntz - University of Amsterdam
Craig Steel - Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Georgie Paulik - Curtin University
Publication Details: Clinical psychology and psychotherapy, Vol.31(5), e3052
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Identifiers: 991005703762707891
Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s).
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Psychology
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.21 Psychiatry; 1.21.24 Schizophrenia Research
Web Of Science research areas: Psychology, Clinical
ESI research areas: Psychiatry/Psychology