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Affective reactions to auditory hallucinations in psychotic, evangelical and control groups
Author(s) -
Davies Martin F.,
Griffin Murray,
Vice Sue
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1348/014466501163850
Subject(s) - psychology , psychosis , auditory hallucination , ideation , perception , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , audiology , psychiatry , medicine , neuroscience , cognitive science
Objective. Building on recent work on the similarities and differences in delusional ideation between psychotic and religious populations (Peters, Day, McKenna, & Orbach, 1999), the experiences of auditory hallucinations in psychotic, evangelical and control groups were examined in this study. Method. The incidence and subjective experiences of hearing voices were assessed using questionnaire methods in psychotic out‐patients, evangelical Christians and controls (non‐psychotic, non‐evangelical). Results. Incidence of auditory hallucinations differed significantly across the three groups with psychotics showing the highest levels and controls the lowest levels. The experiences of the evangelical group were significantly more positive than those of the control group, which in turn were significantly more positive than those of the psychotic group. The most recent experience of hearing voices was rated more positively than the first experience by the psychotic and religious groups but not by the control group. These findings were much stronger for affective reactions to the experiences than for perceptions of the voices. Conclusion. These results provide only partial support for the findings of Peters et al. (1999) on differences in delusional ideation and possible reasons for this are discussed. The findings for religious and psychotic individuals are discussed further in terms of interpretational and coping mechanisms.