Exploring how young people and parents make sense of voice-hearing V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring how young people who hear voices, and parents of young people who hear voices, make sense of voice-hearing in the family context
IRAS ID
254629
Contact name
Claire Mayer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NTW NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
This qualitative study will explore how young people aged 12-19 who hear voices, and parents of such young people, have made sense of the experience in the family context. Around 8% of children and young people are thought to regularly hear voices others don’t, yet this remains remarkably under-researched. Making sense of voice-hearing is seen as therapeutically valuable and can aid recovery, while reducing distress, shame and stigma. While voice-hearing itself is a individual experience, the sense made of it inevitably involves other people. For most young people, sense-making involves the family. Yet family members may struggle to understand the voice-hearing experience and may be dealing with their own strong negative personal reactions. The study will recruit 2 groups with up to 10 in each group; one group will be young people aged 12-19 who hear voices and have received support from secondary or tertiary services for this. The other group will be parents of such young people. Participants will be involved in an interview lasting up to 60 minutes. The interview will look at participants’ views, perceptions and feelings about voice-hearing, and how these may have been explored and influenced by the family. Understanding the lived experience of young people and parents in relation to voice-hearing is a pressing concern for the NHS. It is hoped that this study will give professionals a better sense of how to positively support young people and their families in making sense of voice-hearing. It will inform the development of support and services for individuals, families and carers. The research should also contribute to understanding of how young people and their families make sense of unusual experiences more generally, so may be transferable to other young people’s and Early Intervention in Psychosis services.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NE/0014
Date of REC Opinion
8 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion