title: Relationship between self-focused attention, mindfulness and distress in individuals with auditory verbal hallucinations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
authors.affiliation: a Virgen del Rocío Outpatient Mental Hospital, Andalusian Health-Care Service , University Hospital Virgen del Rocío , Avda. Jerez, s/n, Seville 41013 , Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Úbeda-Gómez
authors.affiliation: a Virgen del Rocío Outpatient Mental Hospital, Andalusian Health-Care Service , University Hospital Virgen del Rocío , Avda. Jerez, s/n, Seville 41013 , Spain.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: León-Palacios
authors.affiliation: a Virgen del Rocío Outpatient Mental Hospital, Andalusian Health-Care Service , University Hospital Virgen del Rocío , Avda. Jerez, s/n, Seville 41013 , Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Escudero-Pérez
authors.affiliation: a Virgen del Rocío Outpatient Mental Hospital, Andalusian Health-Care Service , University Hospital Virgen del Rocío , Avda. Jerez, s/n, Seville 41013 , Spain.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barros-Albarrán
authors.affiliation: b Department of Experimental Psychology , University of Seville , Seville , Spain.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: López-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: a Virgen del Rocío Outpatient Mental Hospital, Andalusian Health-Care Service , University Hospital Virgen del Rocío , Avda. Jerez, s/n, Seville 41013 , Spain.|c Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment Department , University of Seville , Seville , Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perona-Garcelán
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001364:Awareness; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D064866:Mindfulness; D012649:Self Concept
keywords: auditory verbal hallucinations; distress caused by the voices; mindfulness; private self-focused attention; psychosis; public self-focused attention