COPING STRATEGIES AGAINST HALLUCINATIONS IN SCHIZOPHRENIA

Despite the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia, many patients continue to have per positive symptoms like hallucinations. It has provided new interest for coping strategies used by hallucinated patients. Therefore the aim of the study was to explore the existence of such strategies in 50 schizophrenic patients defined by the presence of hallucinations. A specific questionnaire about coping strategies and a scale for the assessment of positive and negative symptoms were used Our results showed that each patient developped at least one strategy, even rudimentary Moreover, whenever the type of hallucinations, they developped specific coping strategies, most of the time logically used : they used them as much as they were efficace. So coping strategies should be taken into account for the clinical management of hallucinated patients. Learning of these strategies through behavioural al and cognitive therapy could help patients suffering from resistant hallucinations.