The hearing voices network: initial lessons and future directions for mental health professionals and Systems of Care

Abstract

For more than two decades, the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) has provided alternative approaches to supporting voice hearers, and an emerging body of research is now confirming their value. HVN approaches present unique opportunities and challenges for mental health professionals and systems of care that work with individuals who hear voices. An overview of the HVN is presented, including its history, principles and approaches. HVN approaches are compared and contrasted with traditional mental health treatments. HVN's potential contribution to the transformation of mental health care is discussed. Directions for future research are presented.

Help, I can’t help: A qualitative study of psychiatric nurse’s perspectives on their care for people who hear voices

“…The treatment of hallucinations in acute psychiatric settings has traditionally been pursued through pharmacological means (Styron, Utter, & Davidson, 2017). For the role of the psychiatric nurse, this meant that they were dispensing medication and promoting adherence to it, while being advised to avoid discussing voice hearing with service users, for fear it would encourage further hallucinations and upset (Chadwick & Hemingway, 2017; Coffey & Hewitt, 2008; Place, Foxcroft, & Shaw, 2011; Ritsher, Lucksted, Otilingam, & Grajales, 2004).…”

“…For the role of the psychiatric nurse, this meant that they were dispensing medication and promoting adherence to it, while being advised to avoid discussing voice hearing with service users, for fear it would encourage further hallucinations and upset (Chadwick & Hemingway, 2017; Coffey & Hewitt, 2008; Place, Foxcroft, & Shaw, 2011; Ritsher, Lucksted, Otilingam, & Grajales, 2004). More recently, the limitations of pharmacological interventions have been recognized (Chadwick & Hemingway, 2017; Styron et al., 2017) and alternative psychosocial approaches have been introduced (Hayward, Berry, & Ashton, 2011; Mawson, Cohen, & Berry, 2009), including the adaptation of CBT for psychosis (CBTp) (Morrison & Barratt, 2010), coping strategy enhancement therapy (CSE) (Tarrier, Yusupoff, & Kinney, 1998), hallucination focussed integrative therapy (HIT) (Jenner, Nienhuis, Wiersma, & van de Willige, 2004), family interventions (FI) (Grácio, Gonçalves‐Pereira, & Leff, 2016), and mindfulness and self‐compassion‐based approaches (Thomas et al., 2014). These therapies could conceivably be mastered by psychiatric nurses.…”

“…Psychiatric nurses in the UK have voiced discontent with this situation (Harrison et al., 2008; McCarthy‐Jones & Davidson, 2013; McCarthy‐Jones & Longden, 2013; McMullan et al., 2018) and so have service users (Harrison et al., 2008; Styron et al., 2017). In fact, service users dissatisfied with their treatment have been urging psychiatric nurses to assist them more in exploring and making sense of their voices (Cameron & McGowan, 2013; McCarthy‐Jones et al., 2015; Sapey & Bullimore, 2013).…”

Grupo de Ouvidores de Vozes: experiência inovadora realizada por suporte de pares

“…O Movimento Internacional de Ouvidores de Vozes reforça a ideia de que os grupos aconteçam em outros espaços fora dos cenários de saúde mental (Corstens, Longden, McCarthy-Jones, Waddingham, & Thomas, 2014;Corradi-Webster, Santos & Leão, 2017). Entretanto, Styron, Utter, & Davidson (2017) indicam que pode haver um potencial para a organização de grupos em serviços, apontando que estes ainda precisariam ser mais estudados. Grupos de ouvidores de vozes não só ampliam as estratégias de cuidado como são eficazes na possibilidade da construção de sentidos diferentes às vozes.…”

A Topografia Da Audição De Vozes: Uma Possibilidade De Interpretação Da Linguagem Da Subjetividade

“…O tratamento tradicional consiste na administração de medicações antipsicóticas que visam à eliminação ou redução das manifestações, combinada à psicoterapia. Porém, nos últimos anos surgiram outras formas alternativas de cuidado, para pessoas que não se adaptaram ao manejo tradicional, com bons resultados 1 , como a Terapia de Aceitação e Compromisso (ACT) -que tem como foco a redução do sofrimento pela alteração da forma como o ouvidor se relaciona com as vozes -, a Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental para Psicoses (CBPt) -a qual se propõe a auxiliar a pessoa a desenvolver crenças menos angustiantes e mais adaptativas sobre as vozes -, e a Terapia Metacognitiva de Treinamento de Atenção (ATT) -treino de foco com estímulos neutros, visando o desenvolvimento de maior habilidade de lida com as manifestações.…”