The distress experienced by voice hearers is associated with the perceived relationship between the voice hearer and the voice
Abstract
Objectives To explore the relationship between distress and the perceptions that voice hearers have of their relationship with the voice they hear. We predicted that a dominant style of relating by the voice and a submissive and distancing style of relating by the voice hearer would be linked with distress. Method Thirty people who were hearing voices took part in the study. Information was gathered about the characteristics of the voice-hearing experience, the level of distress experienced in relation to the voice, the relationship between the voice hearer and the voice, and level of depression. Results The tendency for the voice to relate in a dominating, insulting manner and the tendency of individuals to react with suspicion and lack of communication with the voice were uniquely associated with distress. Conclusions Appraisals of the relationship between the voice and voice hearer made by voice hearers are associated with differing emotional responses to voices. Clinical assessments of people who have distressing voices may be enhanced by a detailed consideration of the sort of relationship that exists between the client and their voice.
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Individuals who are more distressed by auditory verbal hallucinations tend to use more avoidant or resistance coping strategies.
“In comparison, individuals who are more distressed by AVHs tend to use more avoidant or resistance coping strategies (Farhall et al., 2007;Singh et al., 2003;Vaughan & Fowler, 2004).”
From Mindfulness for voices: An experimental analogue study of the effect of manipulating response style to simulated voices in a non‐clinical population. (2023) · cites this paper as Vaughan & Fowler, 2004
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- Authors
- Vaughan, S., & Fowler, D.
- Affiliations
- University of East Anglia (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Fowler, David
- ORCID
- Fowler, David
- Venue
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2004-06
- Volume
- 43
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 143-153
- ISSN
- 0144-6657 (ISSN-L)
- 2044-8260
- OpenAlex
- W1994759708
- Cited by
- 85
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 1.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- British Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
- 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
- voice hearing, distress, depression
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Hallucinations, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Voice, Reproducibility of Results
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