A thesis submitted to the University of Manchester for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology by Alexandra Clark on 03rd June 2019 The aim of this thesis was to compare and contrast voice-hearing and meaning-making in Black clinical and Black Evangelical non-clinical voice-hearers. It is presented as three papers: (1) a thematic synthesis of the qualitative research of how religiosity and spirituality can positively impact people with psychosis; (2) an empirical qualitative study comparing and contrasting voice-hearing and meaning-making in Black clinical and Black Evangelical non-clinical voice-hearers; and (3) a paper presenting a critical appraisal and personal reflections on the research process. In the systematic review paper, 10 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Whilst studies varied in quality, they were generally medium to high quality papers. A thematic synthesis identified three key themes: (1) religion and spirituality as a positive framework for understanding psychosis; (2) religious and/or spiritual practices for managing psychosis; (3) having faith instils hope for the future. These findings highlighted how religion and spirituality can be an important part of the lives of people living with psychosis. The second paper compared and contrasted voice-hearing and meaning-making in Black clinical and Black Evangelical non-clinical voice-hearers. Sixteen participants (eight clinical and eight non-clinical) engaged in interviews. A thematic analysis described three superordinate themes that described both groupsâ experiences: (1) nature of voices; (2) meaning-making and (3) the impact. These findings highlighted the similarities and differences between Black clinical and Black Evangelical non-clinical voice-hearers. The third paper provides further explanation of both papers, reasons for the decisions made and a critical appraisal of the work carried out, considering the wider context of clinical practice, theory and empirical evidence. Personal reflections on the research process as a whole are discussed.
| Date of Award | 31 Dec 2019 |
|---|
| Original language | English |
|---|
| Awarding Institution | - The University of Manchester
|
|---|
| Supervisor | Warren Mansell (Supervisor), Dawn Edge (Supervisor) & Filippo Varese (Supervisor) |
|---|
Exploring the role of religion, spirituality and meaning-making in voice-hearing populations.
Clark, A. (Author). 31 Dec 2019
Student thesis: Doctor of Clinical Psychology