title: Auditory verbal hallucinations in first-episode psychosis: a phenomenological investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In dimensional understanding of psychosis, auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are unitary phenomena present on a continuum from non-clinical voice hearing to severe mental illness. There is mixed evidence for this approach and a relative absence of research into subjective experience of AVH in early psychosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct primary research into the nature of subjective experience of AVH in first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A phenomenological study using diary and photo-elicitation qualitative techniques investigating the subjective experience of AVH in 25 young people with first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AVH are characterised by: (a) entity, as though from a living being with complex social interchange; and (b) control, exerting authority with ability to influence. AVH are also received with passivity, often accompanied by sensation in other modalities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A modern detailed phenomenological investigation, without presupposition, gives results that echo known descriptive psychopathology. However, novel findings also emerge that may be features of AVH in psychosis not currently captured with standardised measures.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
  © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) licence.
authors.affiliation: , MBBS, MRCPsych, PhD, School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Upthegrove
authors.affiliation: , PhD, Medicine, Ethics, Society and History, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ives
authors.affiliation: , MBChB, MRCPsych, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Broome
authors.affiliation: , MSc, School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Caldwell
authors.affiliation: , MA (Cantab), PhD, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: , MBBS, MD, PhD, FRCPsych, School of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Femi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oyebode