Abstract
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 with AVH 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, unstructured 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 strategies and goals – patients’ self-management strategies were diverse, reflecting the diverse negative experiences of AVH, e.g. as unpleasant sounds, overwhelming emotions, or as threats to agency. (3) Outlook – participants formed an overall outlook reflecting their self-efficacy in managing AVH. Resignation and hopelessness in connection with disabling AVH are contrasted with “acceptance” or integration, which were 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.
Methods: 35 participants with AVH 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, unstructured 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 strategies and goals – patients’ self-management strategies were diverse, reflecting the diverse negative experiences of AVH, e.g. as unpleasant sounds, overwhelming emotions, or as threats to agency. (3) Outlook – participants formed an overall outlook reflecting their self-efficacy in managing AVH. Resignation and hopelessness in connection with disabling AVH are contrasted with “acceptance” or integration, which were 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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Psychosis |
| Early online date | 11 Aug 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the accepted author manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Routledge at 10.1080/17522439.2021.1964583. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
- Full-text PDF (final published version)
This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via Taylor and Francis at https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2021.1964583 . Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.