Exploring the links between childhood imaginary companions and auditory hallucinations

Abstract

The topography of Childhood Imaginary Companions (CICs) shares many features with non-pathological auditory hallucinations in adulthood, but the possible link between pathological auditory hallucinations (PAHs) experienced by people diagnosed with psychotic disorders and the presence of CICs is unclear. We explore this under-researched area by means of qualitative research. The experience of CICs and other childhood experiences, onset of PAHs and recovery was explored using in-depth semi-structured interviews with six adults. The key themes revealed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were that all participants had CICs which served a protective function and that their CIC evoked negative reactions from parents. CICs and PAHs were distinct experiences and half of the participants still experienced their CIC. The findings support a model whereby the development of pathological and non-pathological hallucinations in adulthood is mediated by life events. Clinical implications are discussed.

Adult report of childhood imaginary companions and adversity relates to concurrent prodromal psychosis symptoms

“…These findings are in line with previous research suggesting that having a CIC should be considered a form of non-pathological hallucination-like-experience (Fernyhough et al., 2007) that may impact adult experiences (Burbach et al., 2014). Although CIC status was predictive of prodromal symptom report of hallucination/perceptual abnormality, childhood adversity predicted all three components of the prodromal symptoms, and both mediated and moderated the hallucination/perceptual abnormality symptom relationship between CIC status and prodromal symptom report.…”

Whispers, echoes, friends and fears: forms and functions of voice‐hearing in adolescence

“…In attempts to define the experience of hearing voices for children and young people in non-clinical populations, the available literature attends to similarities and differences between fantasy play (Klausen & Passman, 2006) and imaginary companions (ICs; Burbach, Roberts, Clinch, & Wise, 2014) as a childhood interpretation of voice-hearing or dissociation in typical development. However, despite these important possible connections, until very recently (e.g.…”

“…Fernyhough, Watson, Bernini, Moseley & Alderson‐Day, 2019), associations between voices and non‐pathologized developmental experiences such as imaginary friends have been largely overlooked. Phenomenologically, ICs appear to serve a protective function, especially against loneliness and to help a young person cope with interpersonal trauma (Burbach et al., 2014). While the academic literature base surrounding ICs highlights many social and cognitive benefits of the presence of an IC (Majors & Baines, 2017), parents’ negative appraisals of their child’s ICs can lead to increased isolation and negative self‐appraisal (Burbach et al., 2014).…”

Whispers, echoes, friends and fears: forms and functions of voice‐hearing in adolescence

“…Fernyhough, Watson, Bernini, Moseley & Alderson-Day, 2019), associations between voices and non-pathologised developmental experiences such as imaginary friends have been largely overlooked. Phenomenologically, ICs appear to serve a protective function, especially against loneliness and to help a young person cope with interpersonal trauma (Burbach, et al, 2014). Whilst the academic literature base surrounding ICs highlights many social and cognitive benefits of the presence of an IC (Majors & Baines, 2017), parents' negative appraisals of their child's ICs can lead to increased isolation and negative selfappraisal (Burbach, et al, 2014).…”

“…Phenomenologically, ICs appear to serve a protective function, especially against loneliness and to help a young person cope with interpersonal trauma (Burbach, et al, 2014). Whilst the academic literature base surrounding ICs highlights many social and cognitive benefits of the presence of an IC (Majors & Baines, 2017), parents' negative appraisals of their child's ICs can lead to increased isolation and negative selfappraisal (Burbach, et al, 2014). Elsewhere in the literature, systemic dynamics and family functioning have been found to influence young people's self-esteem and self-perception (Bhandari, Winter, Messer & Metcalfe, 2011); emphasizing the significance of relational dynamics for young people, perhaps also concerning voice hearing.…”