Hallucinations In Individuals Research Articles

The effect of Qur'anic Healing on reducing the frequency of Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) in schizophrenia

Auditory hallucinations have led to decreased productivity, impaired interaction, and diminished well-being in individuals with schizophrenia. However, the challenge lies in enabling patients to independently manage their hallucinations, and one potential approach is through psycho-religious methods utilizing the Qur'an. This study aimed to assess the impact of Qur'anic healing on reducing the frequency of auditory hallucinations in individuals with schizophrenia. Employing a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pre-post-test, this study included 35 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria stipulated that participants must have a diagnosis of schizophrenia accompanied by auditory hallucinations, coherent thinking, a cooperative attitude, and adherence to the Muslim faith. The Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS) served as the instrument for data collection, with analysis conducted using the Wilcoxon test. The findings revealed a significant effect of Qur'anic healing on reducing the frequency of auditory hallucinations, indicated by a p-value of 0.000 (p<0.05). Qur'anic healing demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating auditory hallucinations among individuals with schizophrenia. We recommend incorporating Qur'anic healing as an additional supportive therapy for schizophrenia patients. Moreover, it is anticipated that listening to Qur'anic healing will enhance the patient's adaptive coping mechanisms.

Hearing voices among Russian patients with schizophrenia.

There has been relatively little work which systematically examines whether the content of hallucinations in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia varies by cultural context. The work that exists finds that it does. The present project explores the way auditory hallucinations, or "voices," manifest in a Russian cultural context. A total of 28 individuals, diagnosed with schizophrenia, who reported hearing voices at the Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospitals in Kazan, Russia, were interviewed about their experience of auditory hallucinations. The voices reported by our Russian participants did appear to have culturally specific content. Commands tended to be non-violent and focused on chores or other activities associated with daily life (byt). Many patients also reported sensory hallucinations involving other visions, sounds, and smells which sometimes reflected Russian folklore themes. For the most part, religious themes did not appear in patients' auditory vocal hallucinations, though nearly all patients expressed adherence to a religion. These findings support research that finds that the content, and perhaps the form, of auditory hallucinations may be shaped by local culture.

Deafness-Infertility Syndrome and Auditory Hallucinations

Deafness-Infertility Syndrome and Auditory Hallucinations

The CHALLENGE trial: the effects of a virtual reality-assisted exposure therapy for persistent auditory hallucinations versus supportive counselling in people with psychosis: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial

BackgroundMany patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders continue having distressing auditory hallucinations in spite of treatment with antipsychotic medication. The aim of this trial is to examine the effect of a targeted virtual reality therapy for persistent auditory hallucinations in individuals with psychosis. The trial explores whether this type of therapy can decrease the severity, frequency and distress of auditory hallucinations and, additionally, whether it can reduce clinical symptoms and enhance daily functioning in individuals with psychosis.MethodsThe study is a randomised, assessor-blinded parallel-group superiority clinical trial, allocating a total of 266 patients to either the experimental intervention or supportive counselling. The participants will be randomised to either (1) seven sessions of virtual reality therapy or (2) seven sessions of supportive counselling to be delivered within the first 12 weeks after inclusion in the study. All participants will be assessed at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks post-baseline. Independent assessors blinded to the treatment allocation will evaluate the outcome. The primary outcome is the level of auditory hallucinations measured with the Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scales (PSYRATS-AH) total score at the cessation of treatment at 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes are frequency of auditory hallucinations, the distress caused by auditory hallucinations, perceived voice power, patient acceptance of voices, patients’ ability to respond to voices in an assertive way and social and daily function.DiscussionPromising evidence of the efficacy of this immersive virtual reality-based therapy for auditory hallucinations exist, but evidence needs to be established in a large, methodological rigorous trial. If the therapy proves to be beneficial in reducing the severity of refractory auditory hallucinations, a large group of patients with schizophrenia and related disorders could be the target group of this short-term psychotherapeutic intervention.

Prevalence and psychopathologic significance of hallucinations in individuals with a history of seizures

A relationship between seizure activity and hallucinations is well established. The psychopathologic significance of hallucinations in individuals with seizures, however, is unclear. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of auditory and visual hallucinations in individuals who reported a seizure history and investigated their relationship with a number of mental disorders, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Data were from the "Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey," a population-based cross-sectional survey. Auditory and visual hallucinations were assessed using the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire. Mental health disorders were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule. Logistic regressions assessed relationships between hallucinatory experiences and mental disorders, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. A total of 14812 adults (58% female; mean [standard error of the mean; SEM] age 51.8 [0.15]) completed the study; 1.39% reported having ever had seizures (54% female), and 8% of individuals with a seizure history reported hallucinatory experiences (odds ratio [OR] 2.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-3.38). Individuals with seizures had an increased odds of having any mental disorder (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.73-3.16), suicidal ideation (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.77-3.20), and suicide attempt (OR 4.15, 95% CI 2.91-5.92). Compared to individuals with seizures who did not report hallucinatory experiences, individuals with seizures who reported hallucinatory experiences had an increased odds of any mental disorder (OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.14-10.56), suicidal ideation (OR 2.58, 95% CI 0.87-7.63), and suicide attempt (OR 4.61, 95% CI 1.56-13.65). Overall, more than half of individuals with a seizure history who reported hallucinatory experiences had at least one suicide attempt. Adjusting for psychopathology severity did not account for the relationship between hallucinatory experiences and suicide attempts. Hallucinatory experiences in individuals with seizures are markers of high risk for mental health disorders and suicidal behavior. There is a particularly strong relationship between hallucinations and suicide attempts in individuals with seizures. Clinicians working with individuals with seizures should routinely ask about hallucinatory experiences.

Exploring the relationship between auditory hallucinations, trauma and dissociation.

It is clinically imperative to better understand the relationship between trauma, auditory hallucinations and dissociation. The personal narrative of trauma has enormous significance for each individual and is also important for the clinician, who must use this information to decide on a diagnosis and treatment approach. To better understand whether dissociation contributes in a significant way to hallucinations in individuals with and without trauma histories. Three groups of participants with auditory hallucinations were recruited, with diagnoses of: schizophrenia (without trauma) (n = 18), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, n = 27) and comorbid schizophrenia and PTSD (SCZ+PTSD), n = 26). Clinician-administered measures included the PTSD Symptoms Scale Interview (PSSI-5), the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) and the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS). Dissociative symptoms were significantly higher in participants with trauma histories (PTSD and SCZ+PTSD groups) and significantly correlated with hallucinations in trauma-exposed participants, but not in participants with schizophrenia (without trauma history). Hallucination severity was correlated with the CADSS amnesia subscale score, but depersonalisation and derealisation were not. Dissociation may be a mechanism in trauma-exposed individuals who hear voices, but it does not explain all hallucinatory experiences. The SCZ+PTSD group were in an intermediary position between schizophrenia and PTSD on dissociative and hallucination measures. The PTSD and SCZ+PTSD groups experienced dissociative phenomena much more frequently than the schizophrenia group, with a significant trend towards the amnesia subtype of dissociation.

The elephant in the room: understanding the pathogenesis of Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a syndrome characterised by complex visual hallucinations in individuals who are cognitively normal, though often elderly and visually impaired. Although first described over 250years ago, the condition remains poorly understood and difficult to treat. Our understanding of CBS pathogenesis has advanced little since it was first described, and much of the recent literature consists of case studies strikingly similar to the first published account of CBS. However, imaging studies have provided some indication as to the cortical areas implicated in the genesis of complex visual hallucinations, and the existence of similar hallucinatory syndromes in other sensory modalities suggests a common underlying mechanism. This review begins by describing what is currently known about CBS, focusing on epidemiology, clinical presentation and diagnosis. It then explores potential starting points for better understanding the pathogenesis of CBS, namely the existence of similar conditions in other sensory modalities and the reproduction of complex visual hallucinations in sensory deprivation scenarios. Finally, it discusses how CBS should be approached in clinical practice.

F153. Aging and Treatment Resistant Auditory and Visual Hallucinations in Individuals With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

A portion of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience improvement in severity of auditory (AH) and visual (VH) hallucinations over time. Yet, little is known regarding the course of treatment-resistant AH/VHs, e.g., whether any aspect shows a pattern toward improvement with age. Understanding any such nuance may shed light on treatment development efforts.

Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation as an add-on treatment for persistent auditory hallucinations in individuals with schizophrenia: A naturalistic single center study

Effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation as an add-on treatment for persistent auditory hallucinations in individuals with schizophrenia: A naturalistic single center study

Family physician awareness of Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Charles Bonnet syndrome is characterized by formed visual hallucinations in individuals with vision loss. It is reported that one in five older adults with vision loss suffer from Charles Bonnet syndrome and the suspected lack of awareness amongst family physicians may lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. To assess Canadian family physicians' awareness of Charles Bonnet syndrome. We conducted a national perception and practices survey of family physicians across Canada to assess (i) the level of awareness of Charles Bonnet syndrome amongst family physicians; (ii) the frequency of family physicians' encounters with patients with visual hallucinations and (iii) management strategies and referral patterns for patients with Charles Bonnet syndrome presenting to family physicians. Four hundred and ninety-nine family physicians across Canada answered at least one question on the survey. 54.7% indicated they were not at all aware and 19.7% indicated they were slightly aware of Charles Bonnet syndrome. 72.8% of physicians had patients present with visual hallucinations once a year or less often. The frequency of patients seen in practice with visual hallucinations is significantly associated with awareness by physicians of Charles Bonnet syndrome (β = 0.501, t(388) = 5.59, P < 0.001). Of those who encountered patients with visual hallucinations, the majority of respondents (77.4%) provided counselling or education to the patient. There is a great lack of knowledge about Charles Bonnet syndrome among family physicians. Awareness of Charles Bonnet syndrome is critical to appropriate diagnosis, assessment and treatment of this condition and to reassure patients that they are not suffering from a mental disorder.

Risk factors of compliance with self-harm command hallucinations in individuals with affective and non-affective psychosis

Clinicians are often left with the difficult task of assessing and managing the risk of violent behaviors in individuals having command hallucinations, which may result in substantial rates of false positive or false negative. Moreover, findings on the association between command hallucinations and suicidal behaviors are limited. In an attempt to better understand compliance to this hallucinatory phenomenon, our objective was to identify the risk factors of compliance with self-harm command hallucinations. Secondary analyses from the MacArthur Study were performed on 82 participants with psychosis reporting such commands. Univariate logistic regression was used to examine the classification value of each characteristic associated with compliance with such commands. Seriousness and frequency of childhood physical abuse, a current comorbid substance use disorder, emotional distress, general symptomatology, history of compliance, and belief about compliance in the future were found to be significant risk factors of compliance with self-harm commands in the week preceding psychiatric inpatient. Multivariate analyses revealed that severity of childhood physical abuse, belief about compliance in the future, and a current comorbid substance use disorder were independent risk factors. The final model showed excellent classification accuracy as suggest by the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC=0.84, 95% CI: 0.75–0.92, p<0.001). Our results suggest considerable clinical implications in regard to the assessment of risk of compliance to self-harm command hallucinations in individuals with psychosis.

Hallucinations in borderline personality disorder and common mental disorders.

Hallucinations are classically associated with psychotic disorders. Recent research, however, has highlighted that hallucinations frequently occur outside of the context of psychosis. Despite this, to our knowledge, there has been no epidemiological research to compare the prevalence of hallucinations across common mental disorders with the prevalence in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Using data from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (n = 7403), we investigated the prevalence of hallucinations in individuals with a range of mental disorders and BPD. Hallucinations were prevalent in all disorders (range 11-24%). Hallucinations were no more prevalent in individuals with BPD (13.7%) than in individuals with a (non-psychotic) mental disorder (12.6%) (χ2 = 0.03, P = 0.92).

Autonomic Regulation and Auditory Hallucinations in Individuals With Schizophrenia: An Experience Sampling Study.

Auditory Hallucinations (AH) cause substantial suffering and dysfunction, yet remain poorly understood and modeled. Previous reports have linked AH to increases in negative emotions, suggesting a role for the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in underlying this link. Employing an Experience Sampling Method (ESM) approach, 40 individuals with schizophrenia completed a 36-hour ambulatory assessment of AH and cardiac autonomic regulation. Participants carried mobile electronic devices that prompted them to report 10 times/d the severity of their momentary AH, along with a Holter monitor that continuously recorded their cardiac autonomic regulation. The clocks of the devices and monitors were synchronized, allowing for high time-resolution temporal linking of the AH and concurrent autonomic data. Power spectral analysis was used to determine the relative vagal (parasympathetic) contribution to autonomic regulation during 5 minutes prior to each experience sample. The participants also completed interview-based measures of AH (SAPS; PSYRATS). The ESM-measured severity of AH was significantly correlated with the overall SAPS-indexed AH severity, along with the PSYRATS-indexed AH frequency, duration, loudness, degree of negative content, and associated distress. A mixed-effect regression model indicated that momentary increases in autonomic arousal, characterized by decreases in vagal input, significantly predicted increases in ESM-measured AH severity. Vagal input averaged over the 36-hour assessment displayed a small but significant inverse correlation with the SAPS-indexed AH. The results provide preliminary support for a link between ANS regulation and AH. The findings also underscore the highly dynamic nature of AH and the need to utilize high time-resolution methodologies to investigate AH.

Preliminary study of a rehabilitation program based on attentional processes to treat auditory hallucinations

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Despite the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment, residual hallucinations do not completely resolve in some medicated patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of attention training for reducing hallucinations in individuals with psychosis.Methods: A randomised controlled trial was performed in which 20 individuals suffering auditory hallucinations received auditory stimulation similar to their internal voices, which was integrated into the RehaCom program of attention training. An equal number of individuals suffering auditory hallucinations did not receive this training. Cognitive and symptomatological variables were evaluated before and after the intervention period in both groups.Results: Only data of 16 subjects were analysed. Auditory hallucinations no longer occurred by the end of the training program in five of eight individuals, whereas their frequency, intensity and negative content and associated anxiety were significantly reduced in the remaining three. No changes in hallucinations were observed in the control group. Attentional processes and executive functions were significantly better in patients who underwent the training than in those who did not at the end of the intervention period.Conclusions: Attention training can help people with auditory hallucinations develop an ability to ignore them, which can reduce or eliminate them entirely.

Inhibitory deterioration may contribute to hallucinations in Alzheimer's disease

Introduction. Although delusions and hallucinations are relatively common symptoms in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), very little is known regarding underlying mechanisms. We examined whether these manifestations could be underpinned by psychological distress and executive impairments.Methods. Thirty-one participants with probable mild AD and 33 healthy older adults were administered a neuropsychological and clinical battery assessing delusions, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, episodic memory and executive functions (shifting, updating and inhibition).Results. Prevalence of delusions and hallucinations were significantly higher in AD participants compared to control participants. Further, hallucinations in AD participants were significantly correlated with poor inhibition, with the latter uniquely predicting the former, as compared to other variables. In addition, hallucinations in AD participants were associated with depression, a relationship that was further mediated by inhibition.Conclusion. Hallucinations in individuals with AD seem to be related to difficulties suppressing irrelevant thoughts, resulting in these irrelevant thoughts becoming confused with ongoing reality.

Cognitive‐self consciousness and metacognitive beliefs: Stress sensitization in individuals at ultra‐high risk of developing psychosis

Metacognitive beliefs (MCB) may guide information and attention processes, increasing affective and symptomatic reactions to stressful events. Cognitive self-consciousness (CSC; i.e., a preoccupation with one's thoughts) may increase awareness of MCB, potentially triggering the onset of psychotic symptoms. This study tested the hypotheses that (1), MCB would moderate affective and symptomatic reactions to stress in individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) of developing psychosis, and (2), greater CSC would precede worsening in psychotic symptoms in individuals with strong MCB. Twenty-seven individuals at UHR of developing psychosis completed a self-report diary when prompted by an electronic wristwatch several times each day for 6 days (experience sampling). MCB moderated the association between affective, but not symptomatic, responses to social stress. CSC preceded the subsequent occurrence of hallucinations in individuals who reported strong beliefs about the need to control their thoughts. The data suggest that MCB sensitize an individual to social stressors. CSC may represent times where an individual is aware that their thoughts are uncontrollable, and therefore contradicting their MCB, motivating them to make an external attribution. The findings have implications for improving the effectiveness of interventions for people experiencing hallucinations.

Auditory Hallucinations: A Comparison of Beliefs about Voices in Individuals with Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality Disorder

Individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) may experience distressing auditory hallucinations, phenomenologically similar to those seen in psychosis. However, access to effective intervention is limited. The cognitive model of auditory hallucinations highlights the role of appraisals in maintaining distress. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that targets such beliefs has shown efficacy in psychosis. This study examined appraisals about voices in individuals with psychosis and those with BPD to establish whether CBT for voices might have clinical utility for those with BPD. Participants included 45 patients with distressing auditory hallucinations, recruited from the National Health Service. All participants received a structured clinical diagnostic interview and the Beliefs about Voices Questionnaire. Ten participants met criteria for BPD (22%), 23 met criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia (51%) and 12 met criteria for both disorders (27%). Multivariate analyses confirmed that there were no group differences in beliefs about the malevolence or omnipotence of voices, or in behavioural resistance or engagement. Those with BPD and those with both diagnoses reported significantly greater emotional resistance than those with schizophrenia. Those with schizophrenia reported significantly greater emotional engagement with their voices. Auditory hallucinations in psychosis and BPD do not differ in their phenomenology or cognitive responses (beliefs about the power and malevolence of their dominant voice). The main differential appears to be the affective response. CBT that focuses on appraisals and the relationship with voices may be helpful for distressing auditory hallucinations in individuals with BPD as well as psychosis.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome: A Review of the Literature

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) commonly occurs in older adults with visual impairments, particularly those with age-related macular degeneration. It is characterized by complex visual hallucinations in individuals without mental disorders. The authors explore diagnostic criteria, demographic characteristics, clinical features, theories of pathogenesis, and management options for people who are diagnosed with CBS.

Psychotic depression and hallucinations

The clinical syndromes of depression have been systematically studied at a number of different levels of conceptualization: genetic, 1 biochemical and physiological, 2 psychoanalytic, 3,4 epidemiologic, 5–7 and phenomenologic. 8,9 Hallucinations have also been intensively investigated at a number of different levels of organization: neurophysiologically, 10 pharmacologically, 11 in sensory deprivation, 12 hypnotically, 13 and phenomenologically. 14 The reports in the literature about the incidence of hallucinations in depression vary from Beck's finding 15 of 13% to Goodwin's report 16 of 82%. The work of other investigators 17,18 shows incidences falling between those of Beck and Goodwin. A significant problem in investigating the depressive disorders has been the difficulty in categorizing different depressive states. Affective disorders have the lowest overall rate of diagnostic consistency. 19 Because of the difficulty with the specific nosologic categories of depression, as well as the fact that previous studies of the incidence of hallucinations have primarily dealt with manic-depressive psychoses, this study will focus on the incidence of hallucinations in individuals who specifically meet the diagnostic criteria, outlined in DSM I, 20 of Psychotic Depressive Reaction. ∗ ∗ “These patients are severely depressed and manifest evidence of gross misinterpretation of reality, including, at times, delusions and hallucinations. This reaction differs from the manic depressive reaction, depressed type, principally in (1) absence of history of repeated depressions or of marked cyclothymic mood swings, (2) frequent presence of environmental precipitating factors. This diagnostic category will be used when a ‘reactive depression’ is of such quality as to place it in the group of Psychoses.”. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, American Psychiatric Association, special printing, 1965. Furthermore, the group will be described in terms of sex, age, history of psychiatric care, clinical picture, and follow-up for a 9-year period.