Exploring the experience of hearing voices: A qualitative study

Fenekou, Vasiliki; Georgaca, Eugenie

doi:10.1080/17522430903191783

Cited by 31Hallucinations in medical conditionsSchizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health and Psychiatry

Exploring the experience of hearing voices: A qualitative study

Fenekou, Vasiliki, Georgaca, Eugenie·2010·Psychosis

DOI 10.1080/17522430903191783

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Abstract

Aims: A trend has emerged in the last two decades which views hearing voices as a meaningful experience and attempts to facilitate both their exploration and the development of effective strategies of coping with them. This study explores the experience of hearing voices, aiming to highlight the complexity of the phenomenon and the meaning that the experience has for the person. Methods: Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 individuals who currently hear voices and are being treated by the Thessaloniki Psychiatric Hospital. The interview material was analysed by the abbreviated version of grounded theory. Results: The two out of six main categories presented in this paper concern: (a) “the function of voices”, which includes what the voices say and how the hearer deals with them; and (b) “understanding hearing voices”, which includes the explanations given by voice hearers regarding the source and origin of voices as well as the relation of voices to reality and to their thoughts. Conclusions: The study highlights that hearing voices is a complex experience which voice hearers deal with in a variety of ways, and that voice hearers develop sophisticated frameworks for making sense of that experience.

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Even if the notion of hearing voices is not necessarily pathological, psychotherapy literature from very different orientations has explored the multi-voiced nature of the self.
“Even if the notion of hearing voices is not necessarily a pathological phenomenon, psychotherapy literature from very different orientations explored the multi-voiced nature of the self [78, 79].”
From The “common” experience of voice-hearing and its relationship with shame and guilt: a systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as [78]

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Authors: Fenekou, V., & Georgaca, E.
Affiliations: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)
Corresponding author: Georgaca, Eugenie
ORCID: Georgaca, Eugenie
Venue: Psychosis
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2010-06
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 134-143
ISSN: 1752-2439 (ISSN-L)
1752-2447
DOI: 10.1080/17522430903191783
OpenAlex: W2073139815
Cited by: 31
References: 38
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 0.65
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychosis (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hallucinations in medical conditions
Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
Keywords: auditory verbal hallucinations, voice hearing, lived experience, coping strategies, sensemaking, psychiatric inpatients

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Exploring the experience of hearing voices: A qualitative study

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