[The experience of auditory hallucination and the role of self-help groups: an interpretative phenomenological analysis].
BACKGROUND
the aim of this study was to examine and to understand the experience of voice hearing, the meaning and participants' relationship with their voices. And also to explore what 'recovery' means in this context, and the role of self-help group.


METHODS
six semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Emerging themes were identified and clustered into master themes, then interpreted.


METHODS
6 (3 females, 3 males) voice hearers, recovering from psychosis.


RESULTS
Analysis resulted in four master themes to represent the key points of life story interviews; the role of voices (first master theme), relationship with voices (second master theme); asymmetric and symmetric relational concept, position of voices (outside or inside). The third and fourth master theme refer to the role of self-help group, and the method applied by the group.


CONCLUSIONS
applying self-help group in clinical context contributes to better outcomes in treatment of voice hearers.
Eotvos Lorand Tudomanyegyetem, Pedagogiai es Pszichologiai Kar, Pszichologiai Intezet, Tanacsadas Pszichologiaja Tanszek, Budapest, Hungary, E-mail: kassai.szilvia@ppk.elte.hu.
Szilvia
S
Kassai
Márta
M
Kiss
Judit Nóra
JN
Pintér
József
J
Rácz
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012657:Self-Help Groups