The role of self-compassion on the relationship between trauma and hearing voices: A literature review and research report

Objective: Traumatic life events are associated with increased risk of hearing voices and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms have been implicated in this relationship. Studies indicate that increased self-compassion is associated with reduced trauma symptoms and voice-distress. The present study sought to examine whether self-compassion moderated the relationship between PTS symptoms and voice-distress. Method: Self-report and clinician-administered questionnaires were used to measure self-compassion, PTS symptom severity, voice-frequency, and distress in 62 trauma-affected voice-hearers who presented to a community voice-hearing clinic. Results: Correlation analyses revealed that PTS symptom severity was positively correlated with voice-distress, but not frequency, and that self-compassion was negatively correlated with voice-distress and PTS symptom severity. While self-compassion did not moderate the relationship between PTS and voice-distress, it was associated with a significant reduction in voice-distress, at all levels of trauma. Conclusion: Preliminary findings suggest self-compassion may play a role in reducing voice-distress for trauma-affected voice-hearers