Exploring the journey of voice hearing

Section A: Presented is a systematic literature review on the recovery journey of voice hearers. A thematic synthesis approach was used to synthesis 12 qualitative papers and quality assessment was guided by the CASP. Three superordinate themes emerged: ‘Recovery Phases’, ‘Recovery Facilitators’ and ‘Barriers to Recovery’. Voice hearers navigated initially finding voices distressing yet moving towards accepting voices. Searching for meaning and seeking distance from voices were divergent recovery pathways. A proposed model encompasses enabling and disrupting recovery experiences. The implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Section B: Presented is an empirical paper describing the development of a grounded theory of change and change maintenance following CBT for distressing voice hearing (CBTv). Three categories emerged as facilitative of therapeutic change within CBTv: ‘New Ways of Managing’, ‘Overcoming Challenges’ and ‘Gaining New Perspectives’. The maintenance and furthering of positive change after CBTv was captured across five categories: ‘Having a Sense of Control’, ‘Standing on My Own Two Feet’, ‘Voices Are Just Part of My Life’, ‘Investing in Sustaining Relationships’, and ‘Rediscovering and Developing Identity’. Challenging circumstances were also faced by participants and are incorporated into a 3-phase model for maintaining change following CBTv. Clinical, theoretical and research implications are discussed.