https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5118-7827
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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recent theoretical models and preliminary data suggest that shame is a central emotion in the context of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH or voice-hearing). Nevertheless, all previous studies were correlational. Thus, the present study sought to explore whether simulated AVH experiences can trigger shame using an experimental design.
Methods: 346 participants from the general population were randomised to one of 6 conditions. They had to read a vignette describing a character who was either in a situation alone or with a close friend. While reading the vignettes, participants also heard either negative or neutral simulated voices or non-voice neutral sounds. Subsequently, participants completed different measures, including shame.
Results: Our results showed that both the negative and neutral simulated voice-hearing triggered higher levels of shame, but also other negative emotions when compared to ambient sound, regardless of the social context. Participants in the simulated voice-hearing conditions reported higher levels of maladaptive coping strategies and negative beliefs about voices than in the ambient sound condition.
Conclusions: The simulation of neutral and negative voices trigger similar levels of subjective shame, indicating the effect is not specific to negative voices but rather associated with the experience per se. Nevertheless, it can also trigger other negative emotions.
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Notes on contributors
Catherine Bortolon
Catherine Bortolon is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at Université Grenoble Alpes, France, and a clinical psychologist at Centre Hospitalier Alpes Isère. She is interested in the psychological processes implicated in developing and maintaining psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. Moreover, her research also focuses on developing a causal-interventionist approach for the treatment of psychotic disorders.
Martin J. Dorahy
Martin J. Dorahy, PhD, DClinPsych, is a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He has a clinical, research and theoretical interest in complex trauma, dissociative disorders and self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame). He maintains a clinical practice focused primarily on the adult sequelae of childhood relational trauma.
Rachel Brand
Dr Rachel Brand, DClinPsy, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and lecturer in clinical psychology at the University of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. Rachel has worked clinically with people who hear voices for over ten years and conducts research on the role of trauma and emotion in hearing voices.
Clément Dondé
Clément DONDÉ, MD PhD, is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist and assistant professor in the Department of Adult Psychiatry, Hospital University Center Grenoble Alpes, France. He has a clinical, research and theoretical interest in neurocognitive deficits in psychotic disorders, early intervention in psychiatry and non-invasive brain stimulation approaches. He maintains a clinical practice focused primarily on the emergence of psychotic symptoms.
Sophie Slovak
Sophie Slovak is a psychiatrist at Centre Hospitalier de Douai, Douai, France. She is interested in trauma and dissociative disorders.
Stéphane Raffard
Stéphane Raffard is a professor of clinical psychology at the University Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 and a clinical psychologist at the University Department of Adult Psychiatry, CHU Montpellier, France. His broad objectives are to promote a causal-interventionist approach in psychiatry and clinical psychology and to optimize models of behaviour, emotional and cognitive abnormalities in mental disorders.