The experience of hearing voices is often distressing and it is known that the beliefs
that an individual has about that experience, particularly the belief that a voice is
extremely powerful or omnipotent is associated with higher depressive
symptomatology (Chadwick & Birchwood, 1996). Chadwick, Sambrooke, Rasch &
Davis (2000) demonstrated that these beliefs were modifiable in a group intervention
but they did not find an associated decrease in measures of anxiety and depression.
It has also been proposed that coping strategies only become understandable when
they are connected to an individuals beliefs about their voices (Chadwick,
Birchwood & Trower, 1996). Previous research into the coping strategies of voice
hearers, however, has rarely utilized standardised coping assessments, but has rather
relied upon open-ended questioning and post-hoc categorisation.The hypotheses of this study were that the emotionally distressing experience of
hearing voices would be associated with an increased strength of beliefs about the
voice, and avoidance coping strategies. Of particular interest was the strength of
belief of control an individual perceived they had over their voice, as this had not
been explored in previous studies and that in line with the concept of learned helpless
a perceived lack of control would be indicative of anxiety and depression in this
population. It was also postulated that the choice of coping strategy would reflect the
individuals belief system, and again particularly the control they perceive themselves
to have.Twenty-eight volunteers were approached by a third party who had identified them
as currently hearing voices and finding that experience distressing. In a semistructured
interview they were asked to complete the following measures: The
Topography of Voices Scale, A visual analogue scale measuring strength of
conviction of beliefs about voices, The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and
The Coping Responses Inventory (adapted). Results will be given and conclusions
discussed
