Metacognitive factors and alterations of attention related to predisposition to hallucinations

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between predisposition to hallucinations, metacognitive variables and attentional deficits. To this end we applied the Revised Hallucinations Scale (RHS); the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and two tests from the Cognitive Laboratory Battery (COGLAB). The results obtained indicate that negative beliefs about the uncontrollability and danger of thoughts and loss of cognitive confidence are closely related to high scores in predisposition to hallucinations; likewise, these people present various difficulties in attention. We discuss the implications of these results in relation to the literature on the cognitive processes of hallucination.