Some people hear voices after difficult or traumatic experiences, while others do not. Voice hearing also occurs in connection with depression, mania, autism, PTSD, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. The prevalence among young people in Denmark is unknown, but in England it is estimated that 5–7.5% of 13–18-year-olds experience some degree of voice hearing. Voice hearing is often associated with shame, which may increase distress and hinder recovery.
The ECHO intervention is based on a manualized Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) approach developed by Charlie Heriot-Maitland (Heriot-Maitland et al., 2023). Relatives play an important role, but they are often not sufficiently involved, and both clinicians and parents may lack the knowledge and confidence to speak openly about voices. This project examines the clinical feasibility of a CFT intervention with close involvement of caregivers.
The study uses a mirror design, in which the young person serves as their own control group. The participants will be 60 young people aged 13–18 with voice hearing who are affiliated with Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and 20 newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia aged 18–21 affiliated with Adult Psychiatry. The results will be published in relevant forums.
Hypotheses:
- More severe psychotic symptoms are associated with less control over voice hearing.
- More severe psychotic symptoms are associated with poorer social functioning and lower quality of life.
- CFT improves control over voice hearing.
- CFT improves social functioning.
- CFT reduces distress related to voice hearing.
- Young people with severe voice hearing do not differ from patients with schizophrenia on the core measures of social cognition and voice control.