J Úbeda-Gómez1, M G León-Palacios1, S Escudero-Pérez1, M D Barros-Albarrán1, A M López-Jiménez2, S Perona-Garcelán1,3. 1. a Virgen del Rocío Outpatient Mental Hospital, Andalusian Health-Care Service , University Hospital Virgen del Rocío , Avda. Jerez, s/n, Seville 41013 , Spain. 2. b Department of Experimental Psychology , University of Seville , Seville , Spain. 3. c Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment Department , University of Seville , Seville , Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among self-focused attention, mindfulness and distress caused by the voices in psychiatric patients. METHODS: Fifty-one individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis participated in this study. The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS) emotional factor was applied to measure the distress caused by the voices, the Self-Absorption Scale (SAS) was given for measuring the levels of self-focused attention, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was used to measure mindfulness. RESULTS: The results showed that distress caused by the voices correlated positively with self-focused attention (private and public) and negatively with mindfulness. A negative correlation was also found between mindfulness and self-focused attention (private and public). Finally, multiple linear regression analysis showed that public self-focus was the only factor predicting distress caused by the voices. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention directed at diminishing public self-focused attention and increasing mindfulness could improve distress caused by the voices.
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among self-focused attention, mindfulness and distress caused by the voices in psychiatricpatients. METHODS: Fifty-one individuals with a psychiatric diagnosis participated in this study. The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS) emotional factor was applied to measure the distress caused by the voices, the Self-Absorption Scale (SAS) was given for measuring the levels of self-focused attention, and the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was used to measure mindfulness. RESULTS: The results showed that distress caused by the voices correlated positively with self-focused attention (private and public) and negatively with mindfulness. A negative correlation was also found between mindfulness and self-focused attention (private and public). Finally, multiple linear regression analysis showed that public self-focus was the only factor predicting distress caused by the voices. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention directed at diminishing public self-focused attention and increasing mindfulness could improve distress caused by the voices.
Entities:
Keywords:
auditory verbal hallucinations; distress caused by the voices; mindfulness; private self-focused attention; psychosis; public self-focused attention