Independent course of childhood auditory hallucinations: a sequential 3-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
Childhood hallucinations of voices occur in a variety of contexts and have variable long-term outcomes.


OBJECTIVE
To study the course of experience of voices sequentially over a 3-year period in those with and those without a need for mental health care (patient status).


METHODS
In a group of 80 children of mean age 12.9 years (s.d. = 3.1), of which around 50% were not receiving mental health care, baseline measurement of voice characteristics, voice attributions, psychopathology, stressful life events, coping mechanisms and receipt of professional care were used to predict 3-year course and patient status.


RESULTS
The rate of voice discontinuation over the 3-year period was 60%. Patient status was associated with more perceived influence on behaviour and feelings and more negative affective appraisals in relation to the voices. Predictors of persistence of voices were severity and frequency of the voices, associated anxiety/depression and lack of clear triggers in time and place.


CONCLUSIONS
Need for care in the context of experience of voices is associated with appraisal of the voices in terms of intrusiveness and 'omnipotence'. Persistence of voices is related to voice appraisals, suggesting that experience of voices by children should be the target of specific interventions.
Escher
Sandra
S
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University of Maastricht and Intervoice, Bemelen, The Netherlands.
Romme
Marius
M
Buiks
Alex
A
Delespaul
Philippe
P
Van Os
Jim
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012008:Recurrence