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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

Published in:

01-09-2012 | Original Paper

Modelling the emergence of hallucinations: early acquired vulnerabilities, proximal life stressors and maladaptive psychological processes

Authors: Eliot Goldstone, John Farhall, Ben Ong

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 9/2012

Abstract

Background

The study aimed to expand upon existing findings on the vulnerability to psychosis by examining synergistic models of hallucination emergence. Hypothesised vulnerability factors were separated into three stages of vulnerability; early acquired and enduring vulnerabilities (heredity, childhood trauma, early cannabis use), proximal life stressors (life hassles) and psychological appraisals/coping (metacognitions/experiential avoidance).

Methods

Participants were recruited to a non-clinical sample (N = 133) and a clinical sample of psychosis patients (N = 100).

Results

Path analyses in the non-clinical sample indicated that experiences of childhood emotional trauma, in combination with subsequent experiences of life hassles, best predicted vulnerability to both hallucinations in general and auditory hallucinations specifically. This pathway was partially mediated by negative metacognitions. The models were then replicated in the clinical sample, with two notable differences: (1) childhood sexual trauma replaced childhood emotional trauma as the best enduring predictor in the clinical model. (2) Experiential avoidance replaced metacognitions as the best cognitive predictor of hallucinations.

Conclusions

The study’s findings highlighted how vulnerability to hallucinations can occur developmentally across time, with early acquired vulnerability factors, combining additively with more proximal day-to-day factors and cognitive style, to propel a person further towards the formation of hallucinations.

An adequate model fit is indicated by a non-significant p value and a χ ²/df value of less than 2, whilst a good model fit requires a RMSEA value of less than 0.08 and a TLI value of 0.90 [61].

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Title: Modelling the emergence of hallucinations: early acquired vulnerabilities, proximal life stressors and maladaptive psychological processes
Authors: Eliot Goldstone
John Farhall
Ben Ong
Publication date: 01-09-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 9/2012
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0446-9

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Modelling the emergence of hallucinations: early acquired vulnerabilities, proximal life stressors and maladaptive psychological processes

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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