Coping with hallucinations: Exploring stress and coping framework

This study explored application of the theoretical framework of Lazarus & Folkman (1984) to coping with hallucinations in schizophrenia. Eighty-one patients were interviewed with a structured schedule. Unprompted reports of coping indicated wide use of both 'hallucination-specific' and 'general' strategies. Factor analysis of a coping checklist produced three factors which were utilized in regression analyses. The active acceptance factor may relate to control of hallucinations, the passive coping factor predicted distress reduction but, surprisingly, the resistance coping factor, which contained hallucination-specific coping strategies, predicted poor distress reduction. Clinical and research implications are noted.