Voices and Schema Modes: Investigating the Role of Schema Modes in Voice Hearers’ Experience

Branda Newton

Auditory hallucinations, or hearing voices, are a common and distressing symptom experienced by individuals with various mental health conditions. The content of these voices can vary widely, encompassing diverse themes and messages, with the level of distress experienced also differing significantly. Understanding the factors that influence both the distress and content of these auditory experiences is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions. Despite this, there is limited research on how schema modes influence both the distress and content of these auditory experiences among voice hearers. This study aimed to address this gap by pursuing three primary objectives: developing a schema mode profile for transdiagnostic voice hearers, investigating whether schema modes predict voice-related distress, and examining whether schema modes predict positive or negative voice-related content. 76 participants completed the Schema Mode Inventory, the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire, and the Perth Voice Content Questionnaire. The findings indicated that the Punitive Parent and Detached Protector modes were among the most prominent among participants, while the Self-Aggrandizer mode was less prevalent compared to normative percentiles in existing research. Regression analyses indicated that the Vulnerable Child mode was a significant predictor of voice-related distress, the Vulnerable Child, Angry Child, Detached Self-Soother mode was associated with an increase in negative voice content, the Enraged Child, Punitive Parent, and Suspicious Over-Controller modes were associated with increased positive voice content, and the Detached Protector and Demanding Parent associated with a decrease in positive voice content. These findings highlight the possible role of schema modes in the voice hearing experience, which may be targeted in therapeutic interventions (namely, Schema Therapy) for voice hearers.

Voices and Schema Modes: Investigating the Role of Schema Modes in Voice Hearers’ Experience

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