Does insecure attachment mediate the relationship between trauma and voice-hearing in psychosis?. (30th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pilton, Marie; Bucci, Sandra; McManus, James; Hayward, Mark; Emsley, Richard; Berry, Katherine
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 246(2016)
• Page Start: 776
• Page End: 782
• Publication Date: 2016-12-30
• Subjects: Voices -- Auditory hallucinations -- Attachment theory -- Interpersonal theory; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.10.050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: This study extends existing research and theoretical developments by exploring the potential mediating role of insecure attachment within the relationship between trauma and voice-hearing. Fifty-five voice hearers with a psychosis-related diagnosis completed comprehensive assessments of childhood trauma, adult attachment, voice-related severity and distress, beliefs about voices and relationships with voices. Anxious attachment was significantly associated with the voice-hearing dimensions examined. More sophisticated analysis showed that anxious attachment mediated the relationship between childhood sexual and emotional abuse and voice-related severity and distress, voice-malevolence, voice-omnipotence, voice-resistance and hearer-dependence. Anxious attachment also mediated the relationship between childhood physical neglect and voice-related severity and distress and hearer-dependence. Furthermore, consistent with previous research, the relationship between anxious attachment and voice-related distress was mediated by voice-malevolence, voice-omnipotence and voice-resistance. We propose a model whereby anxious attachment mediates the well-established relationship between trauma and voice-hearing. In turn, negative beliefs about voices may mediate the association between anxious attachment and voice-related distress. Findings presented here highlight the need to assess and formulate the impact of attachment patterns upon the voice-hearing experience in psychosis and the potential to alleviate voice-related distress by fostering secure attachments to therapists or significant others. Highlights: Insecure-anxious attachment is associated with voice severity and distress. Anxious attachment mediates relationships between childhood trauma and voices. Therapists should consider the impact of attachment styles on voice-hearing.