A pilot randomised controlled trial of guided self-help cognitive behaviour therapy for distressing voices

Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire (HPSVQ) distress subscale. The HPSVQ is a self-report questionnaire. This outcome will be measured at baseline (before randomisation) and at 12 weeks (post therapy for those in the intervention group).

1. Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) measuring beliefs about personal control when voices are active, beliefs about the self, assertiveness, and ability to cope with voices. This measure will be used to track changes in what are hypothesised to be the mechanisms of change and to see if these correspond with the topics of the therapy sessions i.e. do beliefs about the self improve after the self module of therapy
2. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) . The changes in distress related to the voice hearing experience that is hypothesised may actually reflect a more global reduction in distress – therefore this measure will allow us to capture this.
3. Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). A measure of well-being will give us a more global assessment of how the participants believe their mental health currently is and if this has changed at all
4. Choice of Outcome In Cbt for psychosES (CHOICE) . It is important for this study to include a measure that reflects the outcomes that are important to patients; the CHOICE was developed in partnership with service users and therefore meets this criteria
5. The Brief Core Schema Scale (BCSS) self scale . One of the modules within the therapy focuses on beliefs about the self; this measure gives an assessment as to the degree of positive and negative beliefs the person has about themselves
6. Voice and You (VAY). One of the modules within the therapy looks at relationships, both socially and relationships with the voice; this measure gives an assessment of the nature of the relationship between the voice and hearer, and can measure any changes that might occur in relation to this
7. Beliefs about voices questionnaire- revised (BAVQ-R). One of the modules within the therapy targets beliefs about voices; the present measure is able to measure the degree to which these beliefs are positive or negative, and can therefore track any changes in this
8. Persons relating to other questionnaire (PROQ3). As mentioned, one of the modules within the therapy looks at relationships, both socially and relationships with the voice; this measure aims to capture any changes in social relationships
9. Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSES). As mentioned, one of the modules within the therapy focuses on beliefs about the self; the therapy looks at how these beliefs relate to self-esteem, and this measure will allow us to see if any change in beliefs do correspond to a change in self-esteem.
10. Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire (HPSVQ) phenomenology subscale. It is common place within trials that include populations who experience the symptoms of psychosis for there to be a measure of the symptom severity. This measure will allow us to compare the results to other trials and see if participants do experience a change in the nature or frequency of their voices

All of the above measures are questionnaires that will be completed at (before randomisation) and at 12 weeks (post therapy for those in the intervention group).

11. Patient Experience Questionnaire based on the questionnaire used in IAPT services. This questionnaire is a way of ascertaining patient satisfaction in a quantitative manner, in addition to the exit interview; this data will also allow for comparison between this study and IAPT services
12. Qualitative exit interview based on the ‘Change Interview’ . The qualitative part of this research study will help to identify any other changes that participants experienced after the therapy that the quantitative measures were not able to identify. It will also give participants a space to give the research team suggestions that can be utilised in future research studies