Validation of the Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire: Associations with emotional distress and wellbeing, and invariance across diagnosis and sex

Voice-hearing is a transdiagnostic experience with evident negative effects on patients. Good quality measurement needed to further elucidate the nature, impact and treatment of voice-hearing experiences across patient groups. The Hamilton Program for Schizophrenia Voices Questionnaire (HPSVQ) brief self-report measure which requires psychometric evaluation. Using data from sample 401 adult UK patients, fit conceptual HPSVQ model, proposing separation between physical emotional characteristics, was tested. A structural model examined test associations voice-hearing, general distress (depression, anxiety, stress) wellbeing. invariance parameters diagnosis sex. final comprised two factors named ‘voice severity’ ‘voice-related distress’. former mainly voice characteristics latter other impacts. Structural results supported voice-related as mediating severity Model were invariant psychosis versus non-psychosis partially Females experienced more severe distressing voices direct association anxiety evident. useful some scope exploration refinement. Voice-related appears key mechanism by predicts Whilst our broadly support interventions targeting all females may benefit especially strategies responding.