On the phenomenology of auditory verbal hallucinations in affective and non-affective psychosis.
Psychiatry Research June 4, 2020 W. L. Toh, N. Thomas, Y. Hollander et al. 22 citations
Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) show more similarities than differences across diagnoses of bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. Among 34 AVH characteristics, significant differences emerged only for frequency, number of voices, form of address, perceived location, level of conviction, beliefs about origin, and functional interference. Distress and functional impairment were best predicted by specific AVH variables, and these predictors differed between affective and non-affective psychosis. A qualitative thematic analysis identified four themes: content, form, function, and non-voice experiences. The findings suggest important implications for diagnosis and treatment.