The relationship with the voices as a dialogical experience: The role of self‐focused attention and dissociation

Abstract

[Objective] The purpose of this article was to study the relationship of self‐focused attention and dissociation with the dialogical relationship persons diagnosed with psychosis have with their voices.

[Method] The DAIMON Scale was applied to 62 persons diagnosed with psychosis to measure the dialogical relationship with their voices, and the Cambridge depersonalization scale, the Tellegen absorption scale, and the self‐focused attention scale.

[Results] The results showed that the dialogical relationship with the voices was associated with high levels of self‐focused attention (private and public), depersonalization, and absorption. It was also found that absorption mediated significantly between public self‐focused attention and the dialogical relationship with the voices.

[Conclusions] The role of dissociation and self‐focused attention in forming the dialogical relationship a person with psychosis has with the voices is discussed and approaches to treatment are suggested.