. 2020 Jul 16;47(1):228–236. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbaa095

Table 2.

Affect, agency, and interpretation

Codes	n	%
Affect and content
Voices elicit positive emotions	14	35
Voices elicit negative emotions	40	100
1. Anxiety associated	26	65
2. Depression associated	21	52.5
3. Fear associated	24	60
4. Paranoia associated	20	50
Simple linguistic structure	16	40
Directly address voice-hearer	33	82.5
Voices comment on voice-hearer	18	45
Voices converse with voice-hearer	19	47.5
Commanding voices	27	67.5
1. Voice-hearer follows commands	13	32.5
Abusive/violent voices	35	87.5
Positive/helpful voices	17	42.5
Companionship from voice	13	32.5
Voice knows more than voice-hearer	18	45
Agency and character
Recurring voices	37	92.5
Voices recognizable from voice-hearer’s life	19	47.5
Change in character or personality of voices across time	7	17.5
Absent agency^a	6	15
Agency without individuation^a	18	45
Internally individualized agency^a	30	75
Externally individualized agency^a	20	50
Minimal personification^b	24	60
Complex personification^b	16	40
Archetypal features	17	42.5
Social context and interpretation
Voices important to identity/sense of self	5	12.5
Positive impact on relationships	2	5
Negative impact on relationships	31	77.5
Self-stigma regarding voices	19	47.5
Suicidal thoughts or actions	20	50
Sleep disruption	25	62.5
Traumatic context around onset	26	65
Trauma interpretation	10	25
Biophysical interpretation	10	25
Stress interpretation	15	37.5
Idiosyncratic interpretation	13	32.5
Supernatural/spiritual interpretation	8	20
Family narrative	9	22.5