TY - JOUR
T1 - Listening to voices
T2 - understanding and self-management of auditory verbal hallucinations in young adults
AU - Denno, Peter
AU - Wallis, Stephanie
AU - Caldwell, Kimberly
AU - Ives, Jonathan
AU - Wood, Stephen J.
AU - Broome, Matthew R.
AU - Mallikarjun, Pavan
AU - Oyebode, Femi
AU - Upthegrove, Rachel
PY - 2021/8/11
Y1 - 2021/8/11
N2 - Background: Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (AVH) are a hallmark of psychosis, but affect many other clinical populations. Patients’ understanding and self-management of AVH may differ between diagnostic groups, change over time, and influence clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore patients’ understanding and self-management of AVH in a young adult clinical population. Methods: 35 participants were purposively sampled from a youth mental health service. Participants completed diary and photo-elicitation tasks, and the resulting materials were discussed at in-depth interviews. Themes were derived using conventional content analysis. Results: Three themes emerged. (1) Searching for answers, forming identities–voice-hearers sought to explain their experiences, resulting in the construction of identities for voices and themselves. Explanations were drawn from participants’ life-stories and belief-systems. (2) Coping goals–patients’ self-management strategies were diverse, reflecting the diverse negative experience of AVH, e.g. as distressing sounds, overwhelming emotions, or as threats to agency. (3) Outlook–participants formed an overall outlook on their life with AVH. Resignation and hopelessness in connection with disabling AVH are contrasted with “acceptance” or integration, described as positive, ideal, or mature. Conclusions: Trans-diagnostic commonalities in understanding and self-management of AVH are highlighted. These offer targets for individual therapies and further research.
AB - Background: Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (AVH) are a hallmark of psychosis, but affect many other clinical populations. Patients’ understanding and self-management of AVH may differ between diagnostic groups, change over time, and influence clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore patients’ understanding and self-management of AVH in a young adult clinical population. Methods: 35 participants were purposively sampled from a youth mental health service. Participants completed diary and photo-elicitation tasks, and the resulting materials were discussed at in-depth interviews. Themes were derived using conventional content analysis. Results: Three themes emerged. (1) Searching for answers, forming identities–voice-hearers sought to explain their experiences, resulting in the construction of identities for voices and themselves. Explanations were drawn from participants’ life-stories and belief-systems. (2) Coping goals–patients’ self-management strategies were diverse, reflecting the diverse negative experience of AVH, e.g. as distressing sounds, overwhelming emotions, or as threats to agency. (3) Outlook–participants formed an overall outlook on their life with AVH. Resignation and hopelessness in connection with disabling AVH are contrasted with “acceptance” or integration, described as positive, ideal, or mature. Conclusions: Trans-diagnostic commonalities in understanding and self-management of AVH are highlighted. These offer targets for individual therapies and further research.
KW - Hallucinations
KW - Personality Disorder
KW - Psychosis
KW - Qualitative Research
KW - Self-Management
KW - Verbal Auditory
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85112149567&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/17522439.2021.1964583
DO - 10.1080/17522439.2021.1964583
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85112149567
SN - 1752-2439
JO - Psychosis
JF - Psychosis
ER -
