The "common" experience of voice-hearing and its relationship with shame and guilt: a systematic review.

Abstract in brief

• This systematic review explores how hearing voices (auditory verbal hallucinations) relates to feelings of shame and guilt in people without psychiatric diagnoses, highlighting that these experiences are common and not always distressing.
• The review analyzed 11 studies that looked at voice characteristics, reactions, and beliefs, finding that shame is frequently associated with voice-hearing experiences, while the role of guilt is less clear, indicating the need for further research.
• The findings suggest that understanding the connection between voice-hearing, shame, and guilt could improve therapeutic approaches, especially for those who experience distress, by addressing emotional factors like shame and guilt to prevent negative outcomes such as depression or social isolation.