What Makes Auditory Verbal Hallucinations Groups Effective? A Qualitative Analysis of Insights from Group Facilitators Regarding the Mechanisms of Change

Epidemiological reviews report a significant percentage (between 5%- 28%) of people in the general population experience what is clinically known as auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) or "voices". Psychotropic medications are often used to treat auditory verbal hallucinations. However, group therapy has been found to be an effective therapeutic intervention for this population, but there is limited research on which factors lead to positive outcomes for clients who attend these groups. Furthermore, current research appears to focus on clients' viewpoints regarding what constitutes a "good outcome,” and there has been very little research focusing on the perspectives of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) group facilitators. The purpose of this study was to discover what facilitators of AVH groups viewed as positive group outcomes, and to explore the most important factors, per group facilitators, in generating positive outcomes within a group modality for this client population. This study was a qualitative analysis, specifically employing a cross case analysis approach. Ten group facilitators from around the world who have experience running groups for clients with auditory verbal hallucinations were interviewed. Six themes emerged: Flexibility, Group Process, Empowerment, Self Awareness, Safety, and Lived Experience