Journal article
Changes in positive and negative voice content in cognitive-behavioural therapy for distressing voices
Psychology & Psychotherapy, Vol.95(3), pp.807-819
2022
PMCID: PMC9542164
PMID: 35523677
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Objective:
People who experience distressing voices frequently report negative (e.g. abusive or threatening) voice content and this is a key driver of distress. There has also been recognition that positive (e.g. reassuring, or guiding) voice content contributes to better outcomes. Despite this, voice content has been neglected as a standalone outcome in evaluations of psychological therapies for distressing voices. We aimed to examine whether a modular cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention for voices led to changes in negative and positive voice content.
Design/Methods:
In a naturalistic, uncontrolled pre- and post- service evaluation study, 32 clients at an outpatient psychology service for distressing voices received eight sessions of CBT for distressing voices and completed self-report measures of negative and positive voice content at pre-, mid- and post- therapy.
Results:
There was no significant change in positive voice content. There was no significant change in negative voice content from pre- to post-therapy; however, there was a significant change in negative voice content between mid and post-treatment in which the cognitive therapy component was delivered. The CBT treatment was also associated with significant changes in routinely reported outcomes of voice-related distress and voice severity.
Conclusions:
The cognitive component of CBT for distressing voices may be associated with changes in negative, but not positive, voice content. There may be benefit to enhancing these effects by developing treatments targeting specific processes involved in negative and positive voice content and further exploring efficacy in well-powered, controlled trials with more comprehensive measures of voice content.
Details
- Title
- Changes in positive and negative voice content in cognitive-behavioural therapy for distressing voices
- Authors
- Rachel M Brand (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Thompson InstituteJohanna C Badcock (Author) - Perth Voices ClinicGeorgie Paulik (Author) - The University of Western Australia
- Publication details
- Psychology & Psychotherapy, Vol.95(3), pp.807-819
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2022
- DOI
- 10.1111/papt.12399
- ISSN
- 2044-8341
- PMID
- 35523677; PMC9542164
- Copyright note
- © 2022 The Authors. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The British Psychological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute; School of Health - Psychology; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99635578602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Psychology, Clinical
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