Positive aspects of voice-hearing: a qualitative metasynthesis

Abstract

Voice-hearing occurs in clinical and non-clinical samples, and the role of spiritual and cultural frameworks of understanding for percipients has received increased attention. This review aimed to identify and synthesise the existing qualitative literature relating to positive aspects of voice-hearing experiences, and to make recommendations based on these findings for clinical practice and future research. Qualitative papers that included positive aspects of voice-hearing were identified by undertaking a systematic search of six electronic databases, resulting in 22 papers. The quality of each paper was assessed and the meta-ethnographic approach was used to extract and synthesise the data. Six themes were identified relating to voices providing safety and protection, guidance, creating psychological and emotional wellbeing, providing companionship, facilitating personal growth and development, and connecting hearers to religious or spiritual belief systems. The findings suggest positive aspects of voice-hearing that may have clinical and research implications.

Relating behaviours and therapeutic actions during AVATAR therapy dialogue: An observational study

“…Crucially, voices are viewed as social communicative acts (Bell, Mills, Modinos, & Wilkinson, 2017) rooted in relational patterns, beliefs about the self and others (Garety, Bebbington, Fowler, Freeman, & Kuipers, 2007; Morrison, 2001), and interpersonal trauma (Read, van Os, Morrison, & Ross, 2005). Submissive behaviour, a common response to perceived voice threats, maintains distress and a sense of entrapment (Birchwood, Meaden, Trower, Gilbert, & Plaistow, 2000), but, similar to other abusive relationships, voice‐hearers commonly report ambivalence about these relational experiences, including a sense of closeness and companionship (Valavanis, Thompson, & Murray, 2019).…”

Auditory verbal hallucinations and childhood trauma subtypes across the psychosis continuum: a cluster analysis

“…It is possible that, for many, cumulative exposure to multiple trauma subtypes (particularly including physical and sexual trauma) transforms these "protective" voices into more negative, malevolent voices over time. Whilst this is speculative, this hypothesis warrants further exploration, particularly in context of the significance of positive, supportive voice-hearing experiences that are commonly reported in the hearing voices community (Valavanis et al, 2019).…”

Early Support for People Who Hear Voices: Exploratory Research on Family Medicine Physicians’ Clinical Practice and Beliefs

“…In psychological and psychiatric disciplines, hearing voices and related phenomena have been described for a long time mostly as a prodromal stage and as a symptom of psychosis. During the last few decades, the scientific community has been particularly interested in the phenomenon of hearing voices, considering it a normal phenomenon [1][2][3][4][5]; numerous studies have shown that hearing voices is not necessarily something pathologic but that it can actually be functional for the person who experiences it [6].…”

“…Starting from this premise, scientific studies began to be interested in those who experience this phenomenon in positive ways, exploring the benefits that can be derived from this condition, which can be defined as a specific cognitive function [10,14,15] or rather called a "capacity" [16]. Among the positive aspects identified, we can mention the function of the voices as a source of encouragement and a way to avert feelings of loneliness [1], encourage personal growth [17], and provide support in critical moments [5]. The role of factors that contribute to making the phenomenon of hearing voices a positive experience for the person has been explored; for example, the frequency of the voices, their content, and coping strategies are important [18], but of particular importance is the quality of the relation between the person and their voices, in addition to their beliefs about it [19].…”