EFFECT OF APPLYING “ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY” ON AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS AMONG PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Experiencing persistent auditory hallucinations may contribute to unproductive struggle and interference with valued living among patients with schizophrenia. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) represents a new generation of behavior therapies that proposes active acceptance and achievement of worthwhile goals despite experiencing auditory hallucinations. Utilization of acceptance commitment therapy may assist in reducing auditory hallucinations and may increase patient's feeling of control. Aim: Determine the effect of applying acceptance and commitment therapy on auditory hallucinations among patients with schizophrenia. Setting: The study was conducted at El-Maamoura Hospital for Psychiatric Medicine in Alexandria, Egypt. Subjects: A random sample of 70 male inpatients with schizophrenia was selected and divided equally into a study and a control groups (35 patients in each group). Both groups were matched as much as possible in relation to socio- demographic and clinical data. Tools: Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS-AHs) and Voices Acceptance and Action Scale (VAAS). A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in this study. Results: Significant differences were found between the study and control groups immediately post and after 3 months of ACT on baseline PSYRATS& VAAS scores. Conclusion: ACT offers a promising new treatment for auditory hallucination among patients with schizophrenia. A significant improvement in auditory hallucination was found in the study group immediately after implementing ACT and after 3 months. As well as a decrement in re hospitalization rate and improvement in drug compliance for the study group compares to control one. Recommendations: ACT should be integrated in psychiatric treatment and nursing interventions of inpatients with schizophrenia who experiencing auditory hallucination.