The Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire – Revised: A factor structure from 450 participants

Abstract

Hallucinated voices are common across psychiatric and non-clinical groups. The predominant cognitive theory about the impact of voices posits that beliefs about voice power (‘Omnipotence’) and voice intent (‘Malevolence’/‘Benevolence’) play a key role in determining emotional and behavioral reactions. The revised Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire (BAVQ-R) was designed to assess these constructs, together with two styles of responding (Engagement and Resistance). The BAVQ-R is widely used in clinical and research settings, yet it has not received validation of its constructs and factor structure. This study examined the factor structure of the BAVQ-R by combining datasets from five study centers, comprising 450 participants (belief constructs) and 269 participants (response styles), and using confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. Findings failed to support a three factor belief model, instead showing a two-factor structure (‘Persecutory beliefs’ combining Omnipotence and Malevolence constructs, and a Benevolent construct). Emotional and behavioral items did not separate. Overall, results showed that (i) a two-factor model of beliefs (Persecutory and Benevolent beliefs) provides a better fit to the data than a three-factor model, and (ii) emotional and behavioral modes of responding items should not be separated. Theoretical implications of this finding are discussed in relation to the research and therapy.

Power to the voice hearer — The German version of the voice power differential scale

“…Details about correlations between BAVQ-R and VPD are shown in Table 2. Finally, calculations based on the 4 BAVQ-R factors recently identified by Strauss et al [39] showed the following results: The factor Persecutory Beliefs correlated positively PLOS ONE with Power (r = 0.313, p = 0.002) and Strength (r = 0.228, p = 0.024). The factor Benevolence correlated negatively with Strength (r = -0.249 p = 0.012), Ability to inflict harm (r = -0.339, p = 0.001) and Superiority (r = -0.226, p = 0.025).…”

Exploring the Benefits of Virtual Reality-Assisted Therapy Following Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Auditory Hallucinations in Patients with Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia: A Proof of Concept

“…Patients’ beliefs about their voices as well as the manner they cope with them were measured with the Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised (BAVQ-R) [ 57 ]. The BAVQ-R supports four subscales [ 58 ]: two subscales relating to beliefs (persecutory beliefs and benevolence) in addition to two further subscales that measure responses to the voices (resistance and engagement). Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) [ 59 ], which consists of a 21-item self-report inventory.…”

Testing the Interpersonal-Cognitive Model of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Youths with Either Early-Stage Borderline Personality Disorder or First-Episode Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder

“…As suggested by a reviewer, we repeated the mediation analyses using "persecutory beliefs" combining the malevolence and omnipotence subscales, in accordance with the recently proposed BAVQ-R factor structure by Strauss et al [49]. The results remained unchanged; neither the indirect effect from the BCSS negative self via persecutory beliefs on depression (B = 0.07, SE = 0.10; 95% CI -0.14 to 0.28, ab cs = 0.07; 95% CI -0.14 to 0.29), nor the indirect effect from the BCSS negative other via persecutory beliefs on depression (B = 0.12, SE = 0.09; 95% CI -0.01 to 0.34, ab cs = 0.11; 95% CI -0.01 to 0.29) was statistically significant.…”