Project details

Summary

What is the study about?

Visual hallucinations, or visions, is the term used to describe seeing things that others do not. At least one in three people who have psychosis have reported seeing visions. Despite this, little is known about the nature of these experiences.

Through speaking with people with lived experience, we have learned that the way in which people make sense of their visions effects the nature of their feelings. It can make a big difference in how upsetting or distressing the experience of having visions can be.

What are you trying to find out?

We are trying to understand more about the thoughts people have about their visions and the impact they can have on their lives. We want to develop a new questionnaire which will help us to identify what types of thoughts people have. We also want to explore how these thoughts relate to other psychological difficulties, such as sleep and worry.

Understanding more about the way in which people make sense of their visual hallucinations, and the impact it has on their lives, will be very helpful in enabling us to develop better treatments for people with visions.

What does taking part involve?

If you do take part, you will be invited to complete a pack of questionnaires which should take between 30 and 45 minutes.

These can be completed in your local NHS clinic or at home. A researcher can support you to go through the questionnaires (this might be in person, on the phone, or via video call depending on your preference) or you can do these independently via an online questionnaire. It is your choice how to complete the questionnaires.

The questionnaires cover: information about you (e.g. your age, gender); your experience of visions; your thoughts about your visions; and other feelings and experiences you may have had such as sleep or worry. This will enable us to identify if your thoughts about visions also impact on, or are impacted by, other experiences you may have.

A small group of about 100 participants will also be asked if they would be willing to complete two of the same questionnaires again one week later. This is for a new measure we are developing that helps us to check whether thoughts concerning visions are consistent over time. This would be a shorter meeting and will take about 15 minutes to complete. This is optional. You can choose to say no and still take part in the main part of the study.

Who is it for?

Approximately 900 people will take part in the study.

Each person must:

1. Be aged 16 to 65.
2. Be in contact with mental health services.
3. Have been given a diagnosis of non-affective psychosis (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified).
4. Currently experiencing visions (within the last 4 weeks)

Why is it important? 

Some people can find the questions interesting and find it reassuring to learn that their experiences are common. Equally, people often appreciate the opportunity to take part in research.

Whilst this study does not offer a treatment for visions, the information you share may help us to develop new beneficial treatments for these in the future.

How can I find out more?

You can find out more information about taking part in this study by downloading the key documents at the top of this page. You can also visit the study's project website by clicking here. 

If you are interested in taking part in this study, or have questions for the research team, click the button below to email us:

Email the research team