Promoting recovery with an interactive assessment tool.
The auditory Hallucinations interview Guide (AHIG) 32-item tool that helps psychiatric-mental health nurses assess past and current experiences of voice hear-ers so they can provide more individualized care. The AHIG was developed as a research tool but has also been found to be clinically useful in both inpatient and outpatient set-tings to help voice hearers and nurses develop a shared terminology of auditory hallucinations (AH). Using the AHIG ,voice hearers are able to tell their stories in a structured and safe environment , thus encouraging recovery. Through respect and active listening ,PMH nurses can communicate unconditional acceptance , caring ,and hope for recovery ,which helps develop rapport and promote trust in the nurse-patient relationship . Once trust is developed , voice hearers and PMH nurses can work togetherto find effective strategies for managing AH, including commands to harm self and others.