Exploring voice hearing experiences in daily life. Version 1.0.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Examining psychological models of voice hearing in the daily lives of hearers with and without a ’need for care’: an experience sampling study
IRAS ID
139953
Contact name
Sarah Fielding Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Research summary
Voice hearing is a common experience among people who receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia. For many, such experiences are associated with significant distress and disruption, which contributes significantly to their need for psychiatric care. There is increasing recognition however that voice hearing is not uncommon within the general, non-help-seeking population, where such experiences are typically not associated with any significant distress. It has been proposed that comparing the experiences of voice hearers with and without a ’need for care’ might shed light on the factors that contribute to, or protect against, the emergence of distress in relation to voice hearing experiences.
The proposed study will use a research strategy known as the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) to compare the day-to-day experiences of voice hearers with and without a need for care. ESM requires participants to carry a smartphone on their person for a period of nine days. Ten times a day, when prompted by a beeping sound, participants are required to complete a questionnaire presented on the screen. Questions ask participants to report on the intensity of a variety of experiences which occurred in the moment prior to the smartphone beeping.
Thirty voice hearers with a diagnosis of schizophrenia will be recruited from NHS services in Sussex and South London. A further thirty voice hearers with no need for care will be recruited from specialist sources (e.g. spiritualist organisations). Comparison of ESM data provided by voice hearers with and without a need for care will be used to answer the research question ’what are the day-to-day factors associated with increased or reduced risk of experiencing distress in relation to voice-hearing experiences?’ Identification of such factors can inform the further development of psychological interventions targeting voice-related distress. This study is funded by the University of Sussex and Sussex Partnership NHS Trust.
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0475
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion