Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the impact of directly manipulating response style to simulated voice hearing on sustained attention in a general population sample. The study specifically aimed to explore the effect of a mindful acceptance response to voices compared to an attentional avoidance response. Design: The study has a between-subjects design with responses style (mindful acceptance vs attentional avoidance) as the independent variable (IV) and performance on the Continuous Performance Task, a measure of sustained attention (reaction time and rate of correct responses) as the dependent variable (DV).Methods: We planned to randomly assign participants to either the mindful acceptance condition or attentional avoidance response style. While participants completed the Continuous Performance Task, they would listen to a simulation of voice hearing through headphones using their assigned response style to respond. Results: The study aimed to test whether participants in the mindful acceptance condition have faster reaction times and higher rate of correct responses on the Continuous Performance Task. Data collection has started but has been interrupted by the pandemic. The descriptive statistics of four participants are summarised. Conclusions: We had planned to interpret the results in relation to theories of mindfulness for psychosis which predict that a more mindful accepting response style will lead to less functional impairment for people who hear distressing voices.
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology: Main Research Portfolio: 1) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between emotional stress reactivity and psychosis; 2) Improving Family Engagement in an Adult Inpatient Mental Health Service using an Action Research Framework; 3) Mindfulness for voices: An experimental investigation of the effect of manipulating response style to simulated voices on sustained attention.
Muddle, S. (Author). 15 Sept 2021
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy)