Hearing Voices Network

Hearing Voices Networks, closely related to the Hearing Voices Movement, are peer-focused national organizations for people who hear voices (commonly referred to as auditory hallucinations) and supporting family members, activists and mental health practitioners. Members may or may not have a psychiatric diagnosis. Networks promote an alternative approach, where voices are not necessarily seen as signs of mental illness and regard hearing voices as a meaningful and understandable, although unusual, human variation.^[1] Voices are not seen as the problem, rather it is the relationship the person has with their voices that is regarded as the main issue.^[2]

Development

The first hearing voices network was founded in the Netherlands in 1987 by the Dutch psychiatrist Marius Romme, the science journalist, Sandra Escher, and voice hearer, Patsy Hage.^[3] This was followed by the founding of the UK network in 1988 based in Manchester, England. Subsequently networks have been established in 29 countries over the world, including Australia, Canada, the UK, and the United States.^[4] The first 15 years of the global networks' development is outlined by Adam James in his book Raising Our Voices (2001).^[5]

The National and Regional Networks are affiliated with the international umbrella organization known as INTERVOICE (The International Network for Training Education and Research into Hearing Voices) and often referred to as the Hearing Voices Movement. Within these international networks, the combined experience of voice-hearers and professionals have overseen the development of ways of working with people who hear voices, drawing on the value of peer support and helping people live peacefully and positively with their experiences.

Purpose

The principal roles of Hearing Voices Networks are as follows:

To support and develop local Hearing Voices Support Groups
Raise awareness of the hearing voices approach
To campaign for human rights and social justice for people who hear voices
To provide information, advice and support to people who hear voices, their family, friends
To provide training and education for mental health services and practitioners

Practices and philosophy

These networks are designed to support voice hearers specifically through local hearing voices support groups, where people who hear voices are afforded the opportunity in a non-medical setting to share their experiences, coping mechanisms, and explanatory frameworks. These groups are run in different ways and some are exclusive to individuals who hear voices, while others are supported by mental health workers.^[6] Groups are based in a range of settings, from community centers, libraries, churches, child and adolescent mental health services, prisons, and inpatient units.^{[citation needed]}

Groups are designed to function as peer support groups meant foster socialization and belonging, not therapy and treatment.^{[citation needed]} Members are encouraged to talk about their experiences, to learn what the voices mean to them, and how to gain control over their experiences.^{[citation needed]} Should members desire to, groups can help members explore the relationship between their life history and their experience of hearing voices.^[7]

Studies show that members found attending hearing voices groups a largely positive experience, being able to share their experiences and explore and experiment with different coping strategies.^[8] Members also said that attending improved their self esteem, helped them make friends, and allowed them to feel more prepared for the future.^[8]

Studies have found that after attending hearing voices groups, members' hospital bed use decreased and there was a trend for less formal admissions.^[9] People's relationships with the voices were mostly improved and heard the voices less frequently.^[9] The voices were perceived as less powerful and having less control over them, and participants reported feeling better able to cope the voices and less alone.^[9] Importantly, evaluations showed that members improved in what they had identified as their own goals for the group.^[10]^[11]

National networks have developed considerably over the years and host websites, publish newsletters, guides to the voice hearing experience, and workbooks where individuals can record and explore their own experiences with voice hearing.^[12]

Romme has provided an intellectual basis for these groups in the book Accepting Voices, where he advocates a view that the hearing of voices is not necessarily an indication of mental illness and that patients should be encouraged to explore their voices and negotiate with them.^[13]

References

^ McCarthy-Jones S (2013) Hearing Voices - The Histories, Causes and Meanings of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp.346-354
^ Romme M. Escher S. Dillon J. Corstens D. Morris M. (2009) Living with Voices: 50 Stories of Recovery, PCCS Books/Birmingham City University
^ Escher S. Romme M. The Hearing Voices Movement, Chapter 28 page 385 in “Hallucinations” by Jan Dirk Blom and Iris E.C. Sommer, Editors Springer, New York; Dordrecht; Heidelberg; London (2012).
^ INTERVOICE World Map https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206854668906561198640.0004d62ee0abdfd28256e&dg=feature
^ Adam James, Raising Our Voices: An Account of the Hearing Voices Movement, Handsell Publishing (2001)
^ Bracken, Pat; Thomas, P (24 March 2001). "Postpsychiatry: a new direction for mental health". British Medical Journal. 322 (7288): 724–7. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7288.724. PMC 1119907. PMID 11264215.
^ Casstevens, Willa J.; Coker, Joy; Sanders, Tia D. (2012) Mentored Self-Help: A Promising Approach to Exploring Voices, Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, Volume 14, Number 2, pp. 110-124(15)
^ ^a ^b Longden, Eleanor; Read, John; Dillon, Jacqui (21 June 2017). "Assessing the Impact and Effectiveness of Hearing Voices Network Self-Help Groups". Community Mental Health Journal. 54 (2): 184–188. doi:10.1007/s10597-017-0148-1. PMID 28638952. S2CID 26605078 – via SpringerLink.
^ ^a ^b ^c Meddings S, Walley L, Collins T, Tullett F, McEwan B, Owen K. Are hearing voices groups effective? A preliminary evaluation. Unpublished manuscript, Sussex, UK. Retrieved from: http://www.intervoiceonline. org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/03/Voiceseval.pdf. 2004
^ Meddings S, Walley L, Collins T, Tullett F, McEwan B. (2006) The voices don't like it. Mental Health Today. Sep:26-30.
^ A Ruddle, O Mason, T Wykes (2011) A review of Hearing voices groups: Evidence and mechanisms of change, Clinical psychology review
^ Martin, P.J. (2000). "Hearing voices and listening to those that hear them". Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 7 (2): 135–41. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2850.2000.00276.x. PMID 11146909.
^ Romme, M. A. J., Escher A. D. M. A. C. (Eds.). (1993). Accepting voices. London: Mind

Barker, Paul K. (2011) [1995]. The voice inside. Manchester, England: Hearing Voices Network. OCLC 181679777.
Blackman, Lisa (2001). Hearing voices, embodiment and experience. London New York: Free Association Books. ISBN 9781853435331.
Coleman, Ron; Smith, Mike (1997). Working with voices: victim to victor. Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside: Handsell. ISBN 9781903199015.
Dillon, Jacqui; Longden, Eleanor (2011), "Hearing voices groups: creating safe spaces to share taboo experiences", in Romme, Marius A.J.; Escher, Sandra D. (eds.), Psychosis as a personal crisis: an experience based approach, Hove, East Sussex New York, New York: Routledge for The International Society for the Psychological Treatments of the Schizophrenias and other pychoses (ISPS), pp. 129–139, ISBN 9780415673303.
Downs, Julie, ed. (2001). Starting and supporting voices groups: a guide to setting up and running support groups for people who hear voices, see visions or experience tactile or other sensations. Manchester, England: Hearing Voices Network.
Downs, Julie, ed. (2001). Coping with voices and visions: a guide to helping people who experience hearing voices, seeing visions, tactile or other sensations. Manchester England: Hearing Voices Network.
James, Adam (2001). Raising our voices: an account of the hearing voices movement. Handsell Publishing. ISBN 9781903199138.
Jaynes, Julian (1976). The origin of consciousness and the breakdown of the bicameral mind. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780395207291.
Leudar, Ivan; Thomas, Philip (2000). Voices of reason, voices of insanity: studies of verbal hallucinations. London New York: Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415147866.
Longden, Eleanor (2013). Learning from the voices in my head. Cambridge: TED Books.
McCarthy-Jones, Simon (2012). Hearing voices: the histories, causes, and meanings of auditory verbal hallucinations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139017534.
Romme, Marius A.J. (1996). Understanding voices: coping with auditory hallucinations and confusing realities. Runcorn, Cheshire: Handsell Publications. ISBN 9789072551092.
Romme, Marius A.J.; Escher, Sandra D. (1992). Accepting voices. London: Mind Publications. ISBN 9781874690139.
Romme, Marius A.J.; Escher, Sandra D. (2000). Making sense of voices: the mental health professional's guide to working with voice-hearers. London: Mind Publications. ISBN 9781874690863.
Romme, Marius A.J.; Escher, Sandra D.; Dillon, Jacqui; Corstens, Dirk; Morris, Mervyn (2009). Living with voices: 50 stories of recovery. Herefordshire: PCCS Books in association with Birmingham City University. ISBN 9781906254223.
Watkins, John (2008) [1998]. Hearing voices: a common human experience. Melbourne, Victoria: Michelle Anderson Publishing. ISBN 9780855723903.

Articles, chapters and pamphlets

Christine, A. (1990). "Heard but not seen". Independent on Sunday. Independent Print Ltd.
Barker, Paul K. (October 1990). "I hear voices and I'm glad to!". Critical Public Health. 1 (4): 21–27. doi:10.1080/09581599008406791.
Barker, Paul K. (1995). "Accepting the inner voices". Nursing Times. 91 (31). Emap Publishing Ltd.: 59–61. PMID 7638080. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
Barker, Paul K. (1996). Can you hear me, a research and practice summary. Stavanger: Psykiatrisk Opplysningsfond. OCLC 472812459.
Barret, Terry R.; Etheridge, Jane B. (September–October 1992). "Verbal hallucinations in normals, I: people who hear 'voices'". Applied Cognitive Psychology. 6 (5): 379–387. doi:10.1002/acp.2350060503.
Bentall, Richard P. (January 1990). "The illusion of reality: a review and integration of psychological research into psychotic hallucinations". Psychological Bulletin. 107 (1): 82–95. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.107.1.82. PMID 2404293.
Bentall, Richard P.; Jackson, Howard F.; Pilgrim, David (November 1988). "Abandoning the concept of "schizophrenia": some implications of validity arguments for psychological research into psychotic phenomena". British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 27 (4): 303–324. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1988.tb00795.x. PMID 3063319.
Bentall, Richard P.; Claridge, Gordon S.; Slade, Peter D. (1989). "The multidimensional nature of schizotypal traits: a factor analytic study with normal subjects". British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 28 (4): 363–375. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1989.tb00840.x. PMID 2605389.
Bentall, Richard P.; Haddock, Gillian; Slade, Peter D. (Winter 1994). "Cognitive behaviour therapy for persistent auditory hallucinations: from theory to therapy". Behavioral Psychotherapy. 25 (1): 51–56. doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80145-5.
Bentall, Richard P.; Kaney, Sue; Dewey, Michael E. (February 1991). "Paranoia and social reasoning: an attribution theory analysis". British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 30 (1): 13–23. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1991.tb00915.x. PMID 2021784.
Bentall, Richard P.; Slade, Peter D (1985). "Reliability of a scale for measuring disposition towards hallucinations: a brief report". Personality and Individual Differences. 6 (4): 527–529. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(85)90151-5.
Bentall, Richard P.; Haddock, Gillian; Slade, Peter D. (Winter 1994). "Cognitive behaviour therapy for persistent auditory hallucinations". Behaviour Therapy. 25 (1): 51–66. doi:10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80145-5.
Chadwick, Paul; Birchwood, Max J. (February 1994). "Challenging the omnipotence of voices: a cognitive approach to auditory hallucinations". British Journal of Psychiatry. 164 (2): 190–201. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.413.7816. doi:10.1192/bjp.164.2.190. PMID 8173822. S2CID 6659161. [Challenging the omnipotence of voices: a cognitive approach to auditory hallucinations Pdf.]
Cullberg, Johan (September 1991). "Recovered versus non-recovered schizophrenic patients among those who have had intensive psychotherapy". Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 84 (3): 242–245. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1991.tb03137.x. PMID 1950624. S2CID 37533906.
Eaton, William W.; Romanoski, Alan; Anthony, James C.; Nestadt, Gerald James (1991). "Screening for psychosis in the general population with a self-report interview". Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 179 (11): 689–693. doi:10.1097/00005053-199111000-00007. PMID 1940893. S2CID 10352259.
Ensink, Bernardine J. (1993). Confusing realities: a study of child sexual abuse and psychiatric symptoms. Amsterdam: VU University Press. ISBN 9789053830857.

Also Ensink, Bernardine J. (1992), "Trauma: a study of child abuse and hallucinations", in Romme, Marius A.J.; Escher, Sandra D. (eds.), Accepting voices, London: Mind Publications, ISBN 9781874690139.

Falloon, Ian R.H.; Talbot, Ralph E. (May 1981). "Persistent auditory hallucinations: coping mechanisms and implications for management". Psychological Medicine. 11 (2): 329–339. doi:10.1017/S0033291700052144. PMID 7267874. S2CID 43810158.
Freedland, Jonathan (22 April 1995). "Hearing is believing". The Guardian.
Grierson, Mike (1991). A report on the Manchester hearing voices conference November 1990. Manchester, England: Hearing Voices Network.
Haddock, Gillian; Bentall, Richard P.; Slade, Peter D. (1996), "Psychological treatments for auditory hallucinations, focussing or distraction?", in Haddock, Gillian; Slade, Peter D. (eds.), Cognitive-behavioural interventions with psychotic disorders, London: Routledge, pp. 45–71, ISBN 9780415102902.
Haddock, Gillian; Bentall, Richard P.; Slade, Peter D. (1993). "Psychological treatment of chronic auditory hallucinations: two case studies". Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy. 21 (4): 335–346. doi:10.1017/S1352465800011668. S2CID 146155388.
Heery, Myrtle W. (1989). "Inner voice experiences: an exploratory study of thirty cases". Journal of Transpersonal Psychology. 21 (1). Association for Transpersonal Psychology: 73–82. Pdf.
Holmes, Doug (1998). Hearing voices: Hillary, Angels, and O.J. to the voice-producing brain. Rileyville, Virginia: Shenandoah Psychology Press. ISBN 9780966397376.
Haddock G Slade P. Empowering people who hear voices in cognitive behavioral interventions with psychotic disorders, Routledge, London (1996)
Leudar, Ivan; Thomas, Philip (1995). The Verbal Hallucinations Pragmatics Schedule: Guidelines for establishing pragmatic aspects of voice-voice hearer talk. Manchester, UK: Department of Psychology, University of Manchester.
Leudar, Ivan; Thomas, Philip; Johnston, Margaret (October 1992). "Self repair for in dialogues of schizophrenics: effects of hallucinations and negative symptoms". Brain and Language. 43 (3): 487–511. doi:10.1016/0093-934X(92)90114-T. PMID 1446215. S2CID 11607583.
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Leudar, Ivan; Thomas, Philip; McNally, D.; Glinsky, A. (July 1997). "What can voices do with words? Pragmatics of verbal hallucinations". Psychological Medicine. 27 (4): 885–898. doi:10.1017/S0033291797005138. PMID 9234466. S2CID 21386734.
Lineham, Tim (26 March 1993). "Hearing is believing". New Statesman and Society. 245: 18–19. ISSN 0954-2361. OCLC 224602448.
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Described in: James, William (1986), "The Census of Hallucinations (1889-1897)", in James, William (ed.), Essays in psychical research, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, pp. 56–78, ISBN 9780674267084.
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and: James, William (January 1895). "Review of Report on the Census of Hallucinations". Psychological Review. 2 (1): 69–75. doi:10.1037/h0068910.

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