Identifying the cognitive underpinnings of voice-hearing by comparing never, past and current voice-hearers

Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to compare specific cognitive profiles corresponding to auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) status and elucidate which pattern of cognitive deficits may predict voice-hearing status. Method: Clinical participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were partitioned into: (i) current voice-hearers (n = 46), (ii) past voice-hearers (n = 37) and (iii) never voice-hearers (n = 40), and compared with 319 non-clinical controls. Cognitive assessment employed the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB), supplemented by the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) Colour–Word Interference Test (Stroop) as a robust measure of executive function. Results:..