The relationship between trauma and beliefs about hearing voices: a study of psychiatric and non-psychiatric voice hearers
Abstract
Background: Cognitive models suggest that distress associated with auditory hallucinations is best understood in terms of beliefs about voices. What is less clear is what factors govern such beliefs. This study aimed to explore the way in which traumatic life events contribute towards beliefs about voices and any associated distress. Method: The difference in the nature and prevalence of traumatic life events and associated psychological sequelae was compared in two groups of voice hearers: psychiatric voice hearers with predominantly negative beliefs about voices (PVH) and non-psychiatric voice hearers with predominantly positive beliefs about voices (NPVH). The data from the two groups were then combined in order to examine which factors could significantly account for the variance in beliefs about voices and therefore levels of distress. Results: Both groups reported a high prevalence of traumatic life events although significantly more PVH reported trauma symptoms sufficient for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Furthermore, significantly more PVH reported experiencing childhood sexual abuse. Current trauma symptoms (re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal) were found to be a significant predictor of beliefs about voices. Trauma variables accounted for a significant proportion of the variance in anxiety and depression. Conclusions: The results suggest that beliefs about voices may be at least partially understood in the context of traumatic life events.
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Childhood and interpersonal trauma have been consistently associated with the presence of voices and other anomalous experiences, irrespective of need for care.
“On the other hand, childhood and interpersonal trauma have been consistently associated with the presence of voices [34][35][36] and other anomalous experiences 18 , irrespective of need for care.”
From Clinical, socio‐demographic and psychological characteristics in individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a “need for care” (2016) · cites this paper as [35]
An association between childhood trauma and the presence of persistent psychotic experiences replicates previous findings.
“An association between childhood trauma and the presence of PEs replicates previous findings 18,34,35”
From Clinical, socio‐demographic and psychological characteristics in individuals with persistent psychotic experiences with and without a “need for care” (2016) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Andrew, E. M., Gray, N. S., & Snowden, R. J.
- Affiliations
- Royal Glamorgan Hospital (GB)
- Glanrhyd Hospital (GB)
- Cardiff University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Andrew, E. M.
- Venue
- Psychological Medicine
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2008-01-04
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 1409-1417
- ISSN
- 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-8978
- OpenAlex
- W2107188102
- Cited by
- 133
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 5.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hallucinations in medical conditions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- auditory hallucinations, voice hearing, traumatic life events, post-traumatic stress disorder, child sexual abuse, anxiety, depression
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Culture, Female, Hallucinations, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Prevalence
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