Depersonalization as a Mediator in the Relationship Between Self-Focused Attention and Auditory Hallucinations
Salvador Perona Garcelán, Francisco Carrascoso-López, José M. García‐Montes, Oscar Vallina-Fernández, Marino Pérez-Álvarez, María J Ductor-Recuerda, Rosario Salas-Azcona, Carlos Cuevas-Yust, María T Gómez-Gómez
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation July 6, 2011 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2011.602181 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Patients diagnosed with schizophrenic disorder |
| Measures | Self-focused attention scale, Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (hallucination and delusion items) |
| Topics | Ego dissolution |
| Key findings | Self-focused attention correlated positively with auditory hallucinations, delusions, and depersonalization. Depersonalization mediated the relationship between self-focused attention and auditory hallucinations, but not delusions. |
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to study the potentially mediating role of certain dissociative factors, such as depersonalization, between self-focused attention and auditory hallucinations. A total of 59 patients diagnosed with schizophrenic disorder completed a self-focused attention scale (M. F. Scheier & C. S. Carver, 1985), the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (M. Sierra & G. E. Berrios, 2000), and the hallucination and delusion items on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (S. R. Kay, L. A. Opler, & J. P. Lindenmayer, 1988). The results showed that self-focused attention correlated positively with auditory hallucinations, with delusions, and with depersonalization. It was also demonstrated that depersonalization has a mediating role between self-focused attention and auditory hallucinations but not delusions. In the discussion, the importance of dissociative processes in understanding the formation and maintenance of auditory hallucinations is suggested.