Verbal working memory deficits predict levels of auditory hallucination in first-episode psychosis.
BACKGROUND
Auditory verbal hallucinations are a characteristic symptom in schizophrenia. Recent causal models of auditory verbal hallucinations propose that cognitive mechanisms involving verbal working memory are involved in the genesis of auditory verbal hallucinations. Thus, in the present study, we investigate the hypothesis that verbal working memory is a specific factor behind auditory verbal hallucinations.


METHODS
In the present study, we investigated the association between verbal working memory manipulation (Backward Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing) and auditory verbal hallucinations in a population study (N=52) of first episode psychosis. The degree of auditory verbal hallucination as reported in the P3-subscale of the PANSS interview was included as dependent variable using sequential multiple regression, while controlling for age, psychosis symptom severity, executive cognitive functions and simple auditory working memory span.


RESULTS
Multiple sequential regression analyses revealed verbal working memory manipulation to be the only significant predictor of verbal hallucination severity.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with cognitive data from auditory verbal hallucinations in healthy individuals, the present results suggest a specific association between auditory verbal hallucinations, and cognitive processes involving the manipulation of phonological representations during a verbal working memory task.
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway. Electronic address: jens.petter.gisselgard@sus.no.
Jens
J
Gisselgård
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway.
Liss Gøril
LG
Anda
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway; Network for Medical Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway.
Kolbjørn
K
Brønnick
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway.
Johannes
J
Langeveld
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway.
Wenche
W
Ten Velden Hegelstad
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway; Network for Medical Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway.
Inge
I
Joa
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway; Network for Medical Sciences, University of Stavanger, 4036 Stavanger, Norway.
Jan Olav
JO
Johannessen
Stavanger University Hospital, TIPS, Regional Centre for Clinical Research in Psychosis, Stavanger, Norway.
Tor Ketil
TK
Larsen
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014706:Verbal Learning; D055815:Young Adult
Auditory verbal hallucinations; First-episode psychosis; Schizophrenia; Working memory