Cross-cultural Differences in Hallucinations: A Comparison Between Middle Eastern and European Community-Based Samples.
Schizophrenia bulletin February 24, 2023 Salma M Khaled, Sanne G Brederoo, Arij Yehya et al. 8 citations
Hallucinations in nonclinical populations are shaped by culture. Comparing Dutch and Qatari adults (2,999 each) on the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences, tactile and olfactory hallucinations occurred at similar lifetime rates in both countries. Auditory and visual hallucinations were twice as common in the Dutch sample, and Dutch participants reported younger ages of onset for auditory and tactile hallucinations. Although Qatari participants reported fewer auditory and visual hallucinations overall, those who experienced them had higher mean scores for past-week hallucinations, more impact on daily functioning, and more frequent commanding voices. The findings suggest hallucinations in the Qatari sample carried greater clinical relevance, with implications for early screening and prevention.