Thesis
The lived experience of hallucinations in adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia: a phenomenological study
Master of Arts (M.A.), Drexel University
Sep 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6477
Abstract
The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to explore the lived experience of hallucinations in adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The literature review introduces hallucinations as a symptom of schizophrenia and their related treatment. It presents first-hand accounts of schizophrenia and hallucinations and identifies phenomenological research of schizophrenia and hallucinations. It introduces art therapy use in the case of schizophrenia, and art therapy research of schizophrenia with evidence that there is a lack of qualitative studies of hallucinations in schizophrenia that utilize art as a means of data collection. Two participants were recruited for this study from an outpatient mental health facility in Philadelphia, PA. One participant was male and one female. Both identified as African American, were between the ages of 18-55, and had experienced hallucinations related to their diagnosis of schizophrenia. Data was collected through a brief demographic survey, three drawing directives, and an open-ended interview. Art directives included "Draw what the experience of hallucinating is like for you" on a blank page, "Consider this figure an outline of you, and draw the experience of hallucinating in relation to the figure," on a horizontal or vertical sheet with figure template, and "Fill the circle with what you would like to" on a page with mandala template. The open-ended interview focused on thoughts and feelings related to the first experience of hallucinations, content, frequency and modality experienced in, disclosure to others, management and treatment, and what it was like to express the experience in drawing. Data was analyzed using phenomenological research methods outlined by Moustakas (1994). The following aspects were prominent in an analysis of interviews and drawings: 1) Confusion, doesn't make sense and want to figure it out 2) Desire to escape and to isolate away from others 3) Difficulty in communicating about the experience 4) Extra perceptions in addition to perceptions of a shared reality 5) Flexible and ambiguous content 6) Involvement of different senses and/or multiple senses 7) Loss of ability to fully orient to a shared reality 8) Loss of autonomy requiring assistance and care 9) Medication and coping strategies 10) Past experiences effect on quality of hallucinations 11) Rarely talked about because of fear of judgment from others 12) Problem and something wrong/illness/punishment 13) Unpredictability, sometimes leading to paranoia. The synthesis of these aspects suggests that time and space can be altered by the intrusion of hallucinations. They affect most senses and exist as extra perceptions in addition to those that others may share. Hallucinations can be disorienting, confusing, distracting, and scary. The content of hallucinations can vary given past experiences. There can be a desire to figure out the content of the experience. There is also a tendency to want to escape from the experience and also isolate and go away from others. It is hard for individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia to communicate about their hallucinations given their complex and bizarre nature. Uncertainty about the experience and fear of stigma contribute to the limitation of expression. Support from others is crucial for the health of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who are experiencing hallucinations. It is relieving for individuals to speak about the experience with someone who they can trust. Mental health professionals, peers, family, friends, can help individuals cope with the experience and stay oriented to a shared reality, treat with medication, be empathetic to loss of autonomy, and explore thoughts of wanting to escape including thoughts of dying.
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Details
- Title
- The lived experience of hallucinations in adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia
- Creators
- Christine L. Manturuk - DU
- Contributors
- Elizabeth Hartzell (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Arts (M.A.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Creative Arts Therapies; College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6477; 991014632827904721