The effects of participation in hearing voices groups on components of mental health recovery: an exploratory comparative study

Bacchi, Nicolas; Bertoncini, Thibault; Raffort, Clémentine; Braun, Arthur; Masson, David; Evrard, Renaud

doi:10.1080/17522439.2023.2228873

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similarly, the psychiatric field, influenced by the idea of psychosocial rehabilitation, seems to have forged useful links with HVGs ( May and Hayes, 2012 ) and recognized their social relevance and secondary therapeutic benefits ( Sapey and Bullimore, 2013 ; Styron, Utter and Davidson, 2017 ). The development of patient-centred listening appears to circumvent some of the stigma and marginalization associated with mental illness ( Bacchi et al, 2023 ). However, ‘the effects of hearing voices groups on participants’ voice hearing are still poorly studied’ ( Molinié, 2018 : 118).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the existence of antagonistic opinion, it is likely that the movement will bring a better understanding of AVH in the psychiatric field: firstly, by forcing the clinical and scientific fields to modify their views, the personal and societal repercussions of which have long been neglected; and secondly, by encouraging the creation of community spaces that make mental disorders visible, reconsidering their place and usefulness within society, and initiating a policy of reconciling individuals to their disorders. However, the movement’s perceived political activism may possibly have been a hindrance to the dissemination of the recent scientific data on voice hearing, as research results do not necessarily support the ideal claimed by those extolling the movement ( Bacchi et al, 2023 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Neither saintly nor psychotic: a narrative systematic review of the evolving Western perception of voice hearing

Evrard,

Beauvais,

Essadek

et al. 2024

Hist Psychiatry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We present a social-historical perspective on the evolution of the voice-hearing phenomenon in Western society. Based upon a systematic search from a selection of nine databases, we trace the way hearing voices has been understood throughout the ages. Originally, hearing voices was considered a gifted talent for accessing the divine, but the progressive influence of monotheistic religion gradually condemned the practice to social marginalization. Later, the medical and psychiatric professions of secular society were instrumental in attaching stigma to both voice hearers and the phenomenon itself, thereby reinforcing social exclusion. More recently, the re-integration of voice hearers into the community by health authorities in various countries appears to have provided a new, socially acceptable setting for the phenomenon.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neither saintly nor psychotic: a narrative systematic review of the evolving Western perception of voice hearing

Evrard,

Beauvais,

Essadek

et al. 2024

Hist Psychiatry

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Representation of Voice Hearing Groups by French Mental Health Professionals

Renaud,

Arthur,

Typhaine

et al. 2023

Community Ment Health J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundHearing voices groups (HVGs) are an alternative way of treating acoustic-verbal hallucinations. Although they have been developing in France for the last decade, they have lagged behind their international expansion. The representations that circulate about their functioning and their effects are likely to in uence the referral to these groups by mental health professionals. AimsWe created and used a questionnaire to survey mental health professionals' representations of voice hearing groups. MethodWe surveyed 79 French health professionals using a questionnaire with 19 closed items. 7 additional items allowed us to specify the professional status and familiarity of the participants with the HVGs. ResultsProfessionals generally shared positive representations of HVGs but had very approximate knowledge of them. The subgroup of the most familiar professionals (N = 45) differed signi cantly on 7 items from the subgroup of non-familiars (N = 35). ConclusionsHVGs are represented as one medical offer among others, of little clinical use and indicated only for psychotic voice-hearing patients, which seems to be a misunderstanding in every case. However, our study also shows that these opinions evolve with the degree of familiarity with HVGs. Certain representations need to be corrected so that quality information can be circulated about HVGs and improve their integration into their ecosystem.

show abstract