How should auditory hallucinations be treated?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Jun
Introduction
The main treatments for hallucinations include medication, psychotherapy, physical therapy, and self-adjustment.
1. Medication primarily involves antipsychotic drugs, and treatment must be guided by a clear diagnosis based on the disease's cause and clinical presentation.
2. When hallucinations are caused by schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications such as risperidone and olanzapine are commonly used.
Although people's living standards are gradually improving, social competition remains extremely intense. With less labor required in the future, modern individuals often experience significant mental stress. Without proper outlets for negative emotions, they may become mentally overwhelmed. Auditory hallucinations are a relatively common occurrence. So how should auditory hallucinations be treated?
How to Treat Auditory Hallucinations
The main treatments for auditory hallucinations include medication, psychotherapy, physical therapy, and self-adjustment.
1. Medication primarily involves antipsychotic drugs. Treatment must be guided by a clear diagnosis based on the underlying cause and clinical presentation of the condition.
2. When auditory hallucinations are caused by schizophrenia, commonly prescribed antipsychotics such as risperidone and olanzapine are used. If hallucinations arise from major depressive disorder, antidepressants like sertraline or fluoxetine may be administered, sometimes in combination with antipsychotics such as risperidone, quetiapine, or olanzapine. For hallucinations resulting from other medical conditions, treatment should focus on the primary illness; if hallucinations are severe, low-dose antipsychotics may be added.
3. Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help reduce the impact of hallucinations. Physical treatments such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may also be effective.
4. Self-adjustment involves actively adapting to life despite symptoms. Patients should strive to accept their condition and learn to live with the symptoms—maintaining regular sleep patterns, engaging in physical exercise, and finding ways to redirect attention.
Auditory hallucinations often occur alongside delusions or grandiose delusions, rather than occurring in isolation. These symptoms are commonly seen in schizophrenia spectrum disorders and paranoid personality disorders. Therefore, it is essential not to focus solely on the hallucinations themselves. Instead, patients should visit a psychiatric outpatient clinic for thorough evaluation and diagnosis to determine the specific mental health condition involved, then strictly follow the doctor’s recommended pharmacological treatment plan.
