Exploring the links between childhood imaginary companions and auditory hallucinations

Frank Burbach, Gemma Roberts, Chris Clinch and Nicola Wise

Psychosis, 2014, vol. 6, issue 1, 38-49

Abstract: The topography of Childhood Imaginary Companions (CICs) shares many features with non-pathological auditory hallucinations in adulthood, but the possible link between pathological auditory hallucinations (PAHs) experienced by people diagnosed with psychotic disorders and the presence of CICs is unclear. We explore this under-researched area by means of qualitative research. The experience of CICs and other childhood experiences, onset of PAHs and recovery was explored using in-depth semi-structured interviews with six adults. The key themes revealed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis were that all participants had CICs which served a protective function and that their CIC evoked negative reactions from parents. CICs and PAHs were distinct experiences and half of the participants still experienced their CIC. The findings support a model whereby the development of pathological and non-pathological hallucinations in adulthood is mediated by life events. Clinical implications are discussed.

Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/17522439.2012.753934 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:rpsyxx:v:6:y:2014:i:1:p:38-49

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/RPSY20

DOI: 10.1080/17522439.2012.753934

Access Statistics for this article

Psychosis is currently edited by Dr John Read

More articles in Psychosis from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().