Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41521642›Full record

ArticlePsychological medicine2026

Momentary dynamics of inner speech varieties, auditory verbal hallucinations, and affect in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: an experience sampling study.

Lawrence Kin-Hei Chung, Thomas J Whitford, Anson Kai Chun Chau, Sandra Sau-Man Chan, George Heung-Chuen Chong, Suzanne Ho-Wai So

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In one paragraph

Article in Psychological medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lawrence Kin-Hei ChungDepartment of Psychology, https://ror.org/00t33hh48The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSAR, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2974-580X
Thomas J WhitfordSchool of Psychology, https://ror.org/03r8z3t63University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Sydney, Australia.
Anson Kai Chun ChauDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/02zhqgq86The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSAR, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6665-8425
Sandra Sau-Man ChanDepartment of Psychiatry, https://ror.org/00t33hh48The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSAR, China.
George Heung-Chuen ChongClinical Psychology Service, https://ror.org/05kz7bw59Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong KongSAR, China.
Suzanne Ho-Wai SoDepartment of Psychology, https://ror.org/00t33hh48The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong KongSAR, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8918-7139

Funding

Australian Research Council DP200103288Chinese University of Hong KongChinese University of Hong Kong 4052240University Grants Committee 14601122University Grants Committee 14605123
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAuditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) may arise from misattributed inner speech. However, it is unclear if inner speech frequency and phenomenology differ in schizophrenia-spectrum voice-hearers compared with healthy individuals, and how different inner speech varieties relate to AVH and affect. Using experience sampling methodology (ESM), this study examined the moment-to-moment dynamics between inner speech varieties, AVH, and affect.

methodsParticipants completed 6 days of ESM on an electronic device, responding to 10 daily prompts on inner speech varieties (i.e. dialogic, evaluative, other people, condensed, and positive), AVH, and affect. Responses from 32 individuals with SSDs with current AVH ('SSD') and 34 healthy controls ('HC') were analyzed using linear mixed modeling.

resultsSSD reported significantly more inner speech moments and higher momentary intensity of evaluative, other people, condensed, and positive inner speech compared with HC, but not for dialogic inner speech. Within SSD, higher momentary intensities of dialogic, evaluative, other people, and condensed inner speech were associated with higher AVH levels. Momentary negative affect (NA) moderated the association between evaluative inner speech and AVH, with a stronger association at higher NA levels.

conclusionsSSDs with current AVH experience more frequent inner speech and exhibit a distinct phenomenological profile compared with healthy individuals. Several inner speech varieties are associated with AVH severity momentarily, supporting the hypothesis that inner speech contributes to AVH at the phenomenological level. This study highlights the emotional state as an important moderator of the inner speech-AVH relationship and as a potential therapeutic target.

Indexed as

AffectHallucinationsPsychotic DisordersSchizophreniaSchizophrenic PsychologySpeechAdultEcological Momentary AssessmentFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedYoung Adultcovert speechecological momentary assessmentemotionpsychosisvoices

Identifiers

PMID41521642
PMCPMC12885333

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.