Different measures for auditory hallucinations in populations with psychosis. The Validation of the Spanish versions of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS) and the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI).

INTRODUCTION: An updated summary of the most used instruments assessing auditory hallucinations in population with psychosis, allows us to underline the scarceness and need of Spanish versions of important instruments. The aim of the study is to examine the psychometric characteristics of two different and complementary instruments for assessing auditory hallucinations, the Spanish version of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Scale (AVHRS) and the Spanish version of the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 68 patients from four different centres, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder presenting with auditory hallucinations were included. Apart from the AVHRS and the PUVI, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales-Auditory Hallucinations subscale (PSYRATS-AH) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were also administered to all patients, plus an acceptability questionnaire. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the AVHRS showed a good internal consistency, a moderate to high inter-rater reliability, a medium to moderate test-retest reliability, and a good convergent and discriminant validity. The Spanish version of the PUVI showed a good internal consistency and a heterogeneous, but in general moderate, test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish versions of the AVHRS and the PUVI have good psychometric properties and are well accepted among patients.

Different measures for auditory hallucinations in populations with psychosis. The Validation of the Spanish versions of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS) and the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI) / Diferentes medidas para las alucinaciones auditivas en poblaciones con psicosis. Validación de las versiones españolas de la Escala de Valoración de Alucinaciones Auditivas Vocales (AVHRS) y de la Encuesta sobre Voces Positivas y Útiles (PUVI)

Introduction: An updated summary of the most used instruments assessing auditory hallucinations in population with psychosis, allows us to underline the scarceness and need of Spanish versions of important instruments. The aim of the study is to examine the psychometric characteristics of two different and complementary instruments for assessing auditory hallucinations, the Spanish version of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Scale (AVHRS) and the Spanish version of the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI). Materials and methods: A sample of 68 patients from four different centres, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder presenting with auditory hallucinations were included. Apart from the AVHRS and the PUVI, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales-Auditory Hallucinations subscale (PSYRATS-AH) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were also administered to all patients, plus an acceptability questionnaire. Results: The Spanish version of the AVHRS showed a good internal consistency, a moderate to high inter-rater reliability, a medium to moderate test–retest reliability, and a good convergent and discriminant validity. The Spanish version of the PUVI showed a good internal consistency and a heterogeneous, but in general moderate, test–retest reliability. Conclusions: The Spanish versions of the AVHRS and the PUVI have good psychometric properties and are well accepted among patients. (AU)

Introducción: Un resumen actualizado de los instrumentos más utilizados en la evaluación de las alucinaciones auditivas en poblaciones con psicosis, nos permite subrayar la escasez y necesidad de versiones españolas de importantes instrumentos. El objetivo del estudio es examinar las características psicométricas de dos instrumentos para la evaluación de las alucinaciones auditivas diferentes y complementarios, la versión española de la Escala de Valoración de Alucinaciones Auditivas Vocales (AVHRS) y la versión española de la Encuesta sobre Voces Positivas y Útiles (PUVI). Material y métodos: Se incluyó una muestra de 68 pacientes de cuatro centros diferentes, con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia o trastorno esquizoafectivo según el DSM-IV, que presentaban alucinaciones auditivas. Además de la AVHRS y de la PUVI, se administraron también a todos los pacientes la subescala de Alucinaciones Auditivas de la Escalas de Evaluación de Síntomas Psicóticos (PSYRATS-AH) y la Escala de Evaluación de Síndrome Positivo y Negativo (PANSS), además de un cuestionario de aceptabilidad. Resultados: La versión española de la AVHRS mostró una buena consistencia interna, una fiabilidad inter-jueces de moderada a alta, una fiabilidad re-test de media a moderada, y una buena validez convergente y discriminante. La versión española de la PUVI mostró una buena consistencia interna y una fiabilidad test-retest heterogénea pero, en general, moderada. Conclusiones: Las versiones españolas de la AVHRS y la PUVI tienes buenas propiedades psicométricas y son bien aceptadas entre los pacientes. (AU)

Different measures for auditory hallucinations in populations with psychosis. The Validation of the Spanish versions of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Rating Scale (AVHRS) and the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI).

INTRODUCTION: An updated summary of the most used instruments assessing auditory hallucinations in population with psychosis, allows us to underline the scarceness and need of Spanish versions of important instruments. The aim of the study is to examine the psychometric characteristics of two different and complementary instruments for assessing auditory hallucinations, the Spanish version of the Auditory Vocal Hallucination Scale (AVHRS) and the Spanish version of the Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry (PUVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 68 patients from four different centres, with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder presenting with auditory hallucinations were included. Apart from the AVHRS and the PUVI, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales-Auditory Hallucinations subscale (PSYRATS-AH) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were also administered to all patients, plus an acceptability questionnaire. RESULTS: The Spanish version of the AVHRS showed a good internal consistency, a moderate to high inter-rater reliability, a medium to moderate test-retest reliability, and a good convergent and discriminant validity. The Spanish version of the PUVI showed a good internal consistency and a heterogeneous, but in general moderate, test-retest reliability. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish versions of the AVHRS and the PUVI have good psychometric properties and are well accepted among patients.

Positive and Useful Voices in Patients With Schizophrenia: Prevalence, Course, Characteristics, and Correlates.

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) in schizophrenia have been characterized by their negative emotional valence. However, positive hallucinations have also been described. The objective of the current study is to explore the prevalence, course, characteristics, and associations of positive and useful voices. The Positive and Useful Voices Inquiry and some clinical and functioning instruments were administered to a sample of 68 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder presenting with AVHs. Both the lifetime and current prevalences of positive and useful voices were high. Although AVHs tended to remain stable, there was a trend to decrease over time. The strongest positive attributions of such voices were that they help patients to feel important, amuse them, and help them to conduct their studies and carry out their profession. They seem to be mainly related to more grandiosity and to worse general functioning. Interference with biological and psychological treatments and the need for personalized formulations in patients with auditory hallucinations are discussed.

Toma de decisión compartida y tratamiento antipsicótico: adaptación transcultural de la escala COMRADE / Shared decision making and antipsychotic treatment: transcultural adaptation of the COMRADE scale

Uno de los elementos característicos del modelo de salud mental comunitaria es la orientación de las intervenciones hacia la recuperación funcional del paciente con trastorno mental grave. La escala COMRADE es un instrumento que evalúa los distintos aspectos de la comunicación interpersonal en el momento de la interacción del clínico con el usuario. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar el proceso de traducción y adaptación a lengua española de la escala COMRADE en una población de pacientes psicóticos, así como explorar la comprensibilidad del mismo por parte de sus destinatarios. Para la elaboración de la versión española preliminar empleamos un procedimiento de 'traducción en grupo" y "traducción-re-trotraducción". Para la verificación de la aplicabilidad transcultural de la COMRADE utilizamos una de las denominadas "técnicas inespecíficas", en concreto la denominada "estudio piloto" ("field pretest"). Para ello se realizó un muestreo de conveniencia de 35 pacientes con trastornos del espectro psicótico procedentes de distintos dispositivos de salud mental de la Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Salud Mental del Área de Gestión Sanitaria Norte de Cádiz. La mayoría de los ítems obtienen porcentajes altos o muy altos en la categoría A, correspondiente al máximo nivel de comprensión, siendo mínimo el observado en la categoría C. En función de ello se realizaron ajustes que permitieron configurar la versión definitiva de esta escala. Pensamos que la escala COMRADE será una herramienta útil en el trabajo con estos pacientes para una toma de decisión compartida sobre sus tratamientos (AU)

Functional recovery for patients with severe mental disorder is one main feature of community mental health. COMRADE scale is an assessing tool for different aspects about interpersonal communication between clinicians and users. Introducing the process followed for adapting and translating (from English to Spanish language) this scale is the main objective of this paper, as much as exploring its comprehension. We chose a procedure of "group translation" and "translation-backtranslation" for elaborating the preliminary Spanish version. "Field pretest" was the specific technique we used for the verification of COMRADE transcultural applicability. A sample of 35 patients with psychotic spectrum disorder was arranged throughout "The Area de Gestión Sanitaria Norte de Cádiz". Most of items obtained "high" or "very high" percentages on "A" category, (maximum level of comprehension), while those obtained in "C" category (minimum level of comprehension) were "low" or "very low". Later arrangements were done for obtaining the definitive version of the scale based on these results. Therefore, we think that the COMRADE scale will become a useful tool for shared decisions about treatments between clinicians and patients (AU)