title: Interpersonal and role-related schema influence the relationship with the dominant 'voice' in schizophrenia: a comparison of three models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Auditory hallucinations in psychosis often contain critical evaluations of the voice-hearer (for example, attacks on self-worth). A voice-hearer's experience with their dominant voice is a mirror of their social relationships in general, with experiences of feeling low in rank to both voices and others being associated with depression. However, the direction of the relationship between psychosis, depression and feeling subordinate is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Covariance structural equation modelling was used with data from 125 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia to compare three 'causal' models: (1) that depression leads to the appraisal of low social rank, voice power and distress; (2) that psychotic illness leads to voice activity (frequency, audibility), which in turn leads to depression and the appraisal of voices' power; (3) our hypothesized model, that perceptions of social rank and social power lead to the appraisal of voice power, distress and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings supported model 3, suggesting that the appraisal of social power and rank are primary organizing schema underlying the appraisal of voice power, and the distress of voices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Voices can be seen to operate like external social relationships. Voice content and experience can mirror a person's social sense of being powerless and controlled by others. These findings suggest important new targets for intervention with cognitive and social therapy.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birchwood
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trower
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meaden
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hay
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Jeremy N V
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Miles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D019455:Self Psychology; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014831:Voice