Exploration of trauma, dissociation, maladaptive schemas and auditory hallucinations in a French sample

The main goal of the present study was to explore the associations between several key variables that have been shown to partially mediate the link between specific trauma exposure and auditory hallucinations (AH), that is, maladaptive schemas and dissociation in the general population.

In total, 425 voluntary participants were recruited from the general population and completed online the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Young schema questionnaire, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, and the Launay-Slade Hallucination Scale. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling.

Our model showed that: (1) sexual and emotional abuse impact on AH both through the effect of maladaptive schemas and dissociation; (2) physical abuse impact on AH only through the effect of dissociation. More specifically, we found that four maladaptive schemas impact on AH: Abandonment, Vulnerability, Self-sacrifice and Subjugation.

Overall, our findings indicate that specific early maladaptive schemas may play a fundamental role in the association between exposure to trauma and auditory hallucination together with dissociation symptoms in the general population. Consequently, our study suggest considering maladaptive schemas as an important therapeutic target when working with individuals experiencing AH with or without a psychiatry disorder.