The varieties of inner speech questionnaire – Revised (VISQ-R) - replicating and refining links between inner speech and psychopathology

Ben Alderson-Day, Kaja Mitrenga, Sam Wilkinson, Simon McCarthy-Jones, Charles Fernyhough

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Citations (Scopus)
25 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Inner speech is a common experience for many but hard to measure empirically. The Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire (VISQ) has been used to link everyday phenomenology of inner speech – such as inner dialogue – to various psychopathological traits. However, positive and supportive aspects of inner speech have not always been captured. This study presents a revised version of the scale – the VISQ-R – based on factor analyses in two large samples: respondents to a survey on inner speech and reading (N = 1412) and a sample of university students (N = 377). Exploratory factor analysis indicated a five-factor structure including three previous subscales (dialogic, condensed, and other people in inner speech), an evaluative/critical factor, and a new positive/regulatory factor. Confirmatory factor analysis then replicated this structure in sample 2. Hierarchical regression analyses also replicated a number of relations between inner speech, hallucination-proneness, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and dissociation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)48-58
Number of pages11
JournalConsciousness and Cognition
Volume65
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2018
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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