Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia, Part II: Phenomenological Qualities and Evolution

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Hallucination is defined in the diagnostic systems as an experience resembling true perception without causal stimulus. In this second report from an in-depth phenomenological study of schizophrenia patients experiencing auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs), we focused on the phenomenological qualities of AVHs. We found that a substantial proportion of patients could not clearly distinguish between thinking and hallucinating. The emotional tone of the voices increased in negativity. AVHs became more complex. Spatial localization was ambiguous and only 10% experienced only external hallucinations. There was an overlap with passivity phenomena in one third of the cases. The patients occasionally acted upon the content of AVHs. In the discussion section, we criticize the perceptual model of AVHs. We conclude that the definition of AVH in schizophrenia is misleading and exerts negative consequences on the clinical work and empirical research.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume210
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)659-664
ISSN0022-3018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

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© Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Research areas

  • Auditory verbal hallucination, diagnostic criteria, perceptual model, phenomenology, schizophrenia

ID: 329611094