Metacognitive Factors and Alternations of Attention Related to Predisposition to Hallucinations

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between predisposition to hallucinations, metacognitive variables & attentional deficits. To this end we applied the Revised Hallucinations Scale (RHS); the Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire (MCQ), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) & two tests from the Cognitive Laboratory Battery (COGLAB). The results obtained indicate that negative beliefs about the uncontrollability & danger of thoughts & 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. 3 Tables, 43 References. [Copyright 2005 Elsevier Ltd.]