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Experiential avoidance and appraisals of voices as predictors of voice-related distress

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Filippo Varese
  • Anthony P. Morrison
  • Rosie Beck
  • Suzanne Heffernan
  • Heather Law
  • Richard P. Bentall
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>1/09/2016
<mark>Journal</mark>British Journal of Clinical Psychology
Issue number3
Volume55
Number of pages12
Pages (from-to)320-331
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date11/01/16
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Objectives
Research has suggested that the extent to which voices (i.e., auditory verbal hallucinations) are experienced as distressing might be influenced by negative beliefs about voices as well as maladaptive metacognitive styles involving the negative appraisal and maladaptive control of mental experiences. This cross-sectional study examined the contribution of both specific appraisals of voices and a metacognitive factor (i.e., experiential avoidance) to voice-related distress.

Methods
Self-report measurers of voice characteristics (voice frequency, duration as well as amount and intensity of voice-related distress), experiential avoidance, and appraisals of voices were collected in a sample of 101 voice-hearers.

Results
Experiential avoidance and negative beliefs about voices were associated with higher levels of voice-related distress, but not to measures of voice frequency and duration. Experiential avoidance and negative ‘metaphysical’ beliefs about voices were significant predictors of voice-related distress even after accounting for the effect of frequency and duration of voices, and explained similar proportions of unique variance in distress.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that the appraisals of voices and experiential avoidance are predictive of voice-related distress and that cognitive-behavioural interventions targeting both voice-specific appraisals and general maladaptive metacognitive processes could prove useful treatment approaches for clients with distressing voices.

Practitioner points
Experiential avoidance (EA) and negative appraisals predict voice-related distress caused by voices, but not their frequency and duration.
Interventions for voices should consider targeting EA and negative appraisals (e.g., cognitive-behavioural therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) to ameliorate distress.