Oldal 178 [178]
5. USING INTERPRETATIVE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ANALYSIS = 67
and dissatisfied with these service providers. Hearers recounted more positive
accounts about having the opportunity to meet with a group of people with
similar problems (e.g. self-help groups and communities). In summary, the
hearers (and parents of younger hearers) expected more holistic services from
psychiatric institutions (e.g. groups for voice hearers, destigmatisation pro¬
grammes, family and inter-personal support groups).
The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of voice hearing
individuals by applying the IPA method to examine the ways in which par¬
ticipants make sense of their voices, as was previously explored by several
existing IPA studies (Chin et al., 2009; de Wet, Swartz, & Chiliza, 2014; Holt
& Tickle, 2015).
5.2. METHODS
5.2.1. Participants
Based on IPA methodology (Smith et al., 2009), a purposive sample was re¬
cruited. The research participants were from the Semmelweis University Com¬
munity Psychiatry Centre Awakenings Foundation voice hearers’ self-help
group. Seven female and four male participants aged 31-57 years were selected
by personal contact of the interviewer or by recommendation of the treatment
team or staff psychiatrist. The criteria for participating were having both a
diagnosed mental health problem and a personal experience of recovery. The
exclusion criterion was the presence of acute symptoms. Ethical approval was
obtained from the Hungarian Medical Research Council Scientific and Re¬
search Committee.
5.2.2. Data collection
The study interviews were conducted in a psychiatric institution where the
recovery approach is used. The institution includes an outpatient service and a
daytime care unit. Treatment is based on community psychiatry (Falloon et al.,
2006; Harangozó, Gordos, & Bodrogi, 2006), in which a recovery approach is
used. This includes self-help groups for voice hearers, persons with bipolar
disorder, trauma survivors, and alcohol or drug addicts. The voice hearing group
is self-organised based on the Mérey (2013) self-help books for voice hearers.
The sessions of the self-help group of voice hearers are held every second week
of the month. The group works with two professional experts (one psychiatrist
and one expert of voice hearing) and two experts by experience. The sessions
last for 2hours. Participants share their experiences about voice hearing and