Abstract
Background : although the exact pathogenesis of auditory hallucinations is not yet known, some suggested the impairment of perception and processing of auditory information as a possible explanation. So, the aim of this study is to evaluate auditory pathways of schizophrenic patients using auditory brainstem responses (ABR). Methods : schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations and age and sex matched healthy non-relative controls were recruited in this case-control study. Scale for assessment of positive symptoms (SAPS) was used for rating the severity of hallucinations. Then, ABR recorded from all participants and the latencies of waves I, II, III, IV, V and inter-peak latencies (IPL) of waves I-III, III-V were analyzed on both sides. Chi squire and independent t tests were applied for statistical analysis. P-value≤0.05 was considered significant. Results : 39 patients and 35 controls were included. Latencies of waves III and V and IPL of III-V were significantly prolonged on the left side. Disease duration had no influence on the results. Conclusion : there is a link between abnormal ABRs and auditory hallucinations in schizophrenic patients that indicates dysfunction and abnormal asymmetry of auditory pathways in these patients.
Highlights
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that affects about 1% of the population (Patel et al, 2014)
Our study showed that the presence of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenic patients was associated with changes in auditory evoked potentials (AEP); i.e., the prolonged latencies of the waves III, V and III-V interpeak latencies (IPL) on the left side was significantly correlated with auditory hallucinations
According to researchers, impaired Auditory brainstem response (ABR) indicates abnormal processing of auditory information and impairment in sensory inhibitory gating in schizophrenic patients, which can lead to auditory hallucinations (Freedman et al, 1996; Siegel et al, 1984)
Summary
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness that affects about 1% of the population (Patel et al, 2014). The decreased volume of Heschl’s gyri, especially in the left hemisphere and smaller size of right inferior colliculus are recent findings in the brain of schizophrenic patients that can be associated with auditory hallucinations (Kasai et al, 2003; Kang et al, 2008). This decrease in the nervous system volume occurs mainly in areas related to the central auditory system. There is no agreement on abnormal ABR findings in schizophrenic patients, these changes indicate a brainstem dysfunction and possibly a defect in the processing of auditory perceptions in its early stages. We designed a case-control study to investigate changes in the brain AEPs in schizophrenic patients with auditory hallucinations to help better understand the abnormalities of the central auditory pathways of these patients
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