My Friends, My Voices and Me: A Mixed-methods Investigation Exploring Commonalities and Differences of Sensory Hallucinations and Imaginary Companions

The origins of voice hearing in children have been debated over time. Children participate in imaginary play, but I am particularly interested in how and when it becomes a problem. This PhD is a unique opportunity to examine influencing factors to this issue. Children may hear voices for a variety of reasons relating to both psychological and biological factors, it would be interesting to investigate how they perceive them and how they feel about them. Voice hearing and sensory hallucinations tend to have a negative association. However, I question whether this is always the case for the individual based my experience as a nurse working with people who perceive them in a positive manner and would be greatly distressed if this was taken away from them.
The way in which parents respond and manage can determine the effect the experiences have on a child's social and emotional wellbeing. It can also impact on the child's overall association and relationship with these experiences. Therefore, it is crucial to not only understand the child's perception of the experiences, but also how it implicates on the parents.
It would be interesting to explore why in some people these experiences stop before adulthood, but continue in others throughout their adulthood.
As per aim and objectives of the studentship, I aspire to enhance the understanding of influencing factors to how sensory hallucinations and imaginary companions are perceived and experienced by young people. The unique opportunity to produce results from qualitative inquiry with this population is exciting and coupled with the qualitative investigation of the underpinnings of imaginary companions and sensory hallucinations, I am confident that the mixed methods approach to this aim will produce results that will contribute to knowledge. Additionally, the results will enhance understanding of these issues for those working closely with this client group.
In preparation for this PhD I have completed further studies including the Maastricht Interviewing for both Hearing Voices and Usual Beliefs, Family Intervention training and joint CAMHS/EIS workshops. I am also currently completing an MSc in Psychology which I am due to complete September 2019.