Cognitive therapy for auditory hallucinations: A theory-based approach

Auditory hallucinations, probably the most common symptom of schizophrenia, are usually very distressing for patients. In this article it is suggested that a combination of the interpretations of voices and the content of voices cause the majority of this distress, and treatment approaches based on this assumption are outlined. Specifically, a cognitive therapy for voices based on recent cognitive conceptualizations of auditory hallucinations is described, involving challenging the interpretations of voices, challenging the content of voices, and modifying focus of attention. These are illustrated with reference to clinical cases.