The effects of a voice hearing simulation on implicit fear of voices

The current study investigated potential changes in implicit negativity of hearing voices in a non-voice hearing student population (N=28) subjected to a hearing voices simulation using the Implicit Relational Assessment Procedure (IRAP). On the Baseline IRAP, participants were required to pair voices-as-positive and voices-as-negative statements on alternating trial blocks. Participants were subsequently exposed to a simulation procedure and a Post-simulation IRAP. At baseline and post-simulation, hearing voices was implicitly evaluated as both positive and fearful, however positivity toward voices reduced and negativity increased after the simulation. Interestingly, implicit changes also appeared to be influenced by high delusional ideation.