Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiential avoidance and appraisals of voices as predictors of voice-related distress
AU - Varese, Filippo
AU - Morrison, Anthony P.
AU - Beck, Rosie
AU - Heffernan, Suzanne
AU - Law, Heather
AU - Bentall, Richard P.
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - ObjectivesResearch 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.MethodsSelf-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.ResultsExperiential 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.ConclusionsThese 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 pointsExperiential 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.
AB - ObjectivesResearch 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.MethodsSelf-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.ResultsExperiential 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.ConclusionsThese 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 pointsExperiential 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.
KW - psychosis
KW - voices
KW - hallucinations
KW - experiential avoidance
KW - cognitive-behavioural therapy
U2 - 10.1111/bjc.12102
DO - 10.1111/bjc.12102
M3 - Journal article
VL - 55
SP - 320
EP - 331
JO - British Journal of Clinical Psychology
JF - British Journal of Clinical Psychology
SN - 0144-6657
IS - 3
ER -