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Objective: To evaluate the effects of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) combined with attention training technique(ATT) on auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia. Methods: Sixty schizophrenia patients with au- ditory hallucinations were recruited according to the criteria of International Classification of Diseases, tenth Edition (ICD-10). They were randomly divided into the CBT group (30 cases, 26 cases completed) and the CBT + ATT group (30 cases, 25 cases completed). The CBT group received only 4 weeks of cognitive behavioral intervention for auditory hallucinations, and the CBT + ATT group received 6 weeks of attention training technology intervention based on cognitive behavioral intervention. At baseline and after 12 weeks, the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales- Auditory Hallucinations (PSYRATS-AH) and Scale of Social function in Psychosis Inpatients (SSPI) were used to evaluate the auditory hallucinations symptoms and social functioning of the two groups, and the Attentional Control Scale (ACS) was used to evaluate patients' attentional control ability of the CBT + ATT group. Results: After 12 weeks, the differences (post intervention score-baseline score) of PSYRATS-AH total scores [(-6.8±2.2) vs. (-4.2±1.5)], auditory hallucinations' frequency, duration, number of distresses, control of voices were lower in the CBT + ATT group than in the CBT group (Ps <0.05), and the differences of the SSPI total scores [(13.9 ± 2.9) vs. (11.6±4.2)] and scores of Factor I and Factor III were higher in the CBT + ATT group than in the CBT group (Ps <0.05). Conclusion: This study shows cognitive behavioral therapy combined with attention training technique could improve auditory hallucinations and social function more effectively in patients with schizophrenia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental disorders. Auditory hallucinations, which are known to be closely related to interpersonal relationships, are the most common type of hallucinations observed in the course of schizophrenia. Virtual reality has been developing in various fields with the development of computerized technologies and has started to appear in the field of clinical psychology in the form of virtual reality therapies. Avatar therapy is among the interpersonal-based virtual reality therapy models that focus on auditory hallucinations among the symptoms of schizophrenia. The aim of avatar therapy is to enable the person to have control over auditory hallucinations. Within the scope of this review study; the past, present and future of schizophrenia treatment, effective intervention methods in the treatment of schizophrenia, virtual reality therapy, the main outlines of the avatar therapy model, the effectiveness studies of avatar therapy and ethical issues were discussed. The results of the research on the effectiveness of avatar therapy reveal the need for further research in this field.

Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental disorders. Auditory hallucinations, which are known to be closely related to interpersonal relationships, are the most common type of hallucinations observed in the course of schizophrenia. Virtual reality has been developing in various fields with the development of computerized technologies and has started to appear in the field of clinical psychology in the form of virtual reality therapies. Avatar therapy is among the interpersonal-based virtual reality therapy models that focus on auditory hallucinations among the symptoms of schizophrenia. The aim of avatar therapy is to enable the person to have control over auditory hallucinations. Within the scope of this review study; the past, present and future of schizophrenia treatment, effective intervention methods in the treatment of schizophrenia, virtual reality therapy, the main outlines of the avatar therapy model, the effectiveness studies of avatar therapy and ethical issues were discussed. The results of the research on the effectiveness of avatar therapy reveal the need for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Previous research suggests that auditory hallucinations are prevalent within both the clinical and general populations. Yet, we know little about how these phenomena are associated with other psychopathology symptoms and experiences. The current study aids investigations towards preventing, predicting and more effectively responding to such distressing occurrences. There have been substantial efforts in the literature to propose models of auditory hallucination and attempts to verify them. However, many of these studies used survey methods that restrict the person’s responses to a set of pre-defined criteria or experiences and do not allow exploration of potential important other symptoms beyond them. This is the first study to explore the correlates of auditory hallucination using a qualitative dataset consisting of unrestricted responses of patients about their lived experiences with mental illness. Method The study used a dataset consisting of 10,933 narratives from patients diagnosed with mental illnesses. For analysis, the study used correlation on the text-based data. This approach is an alternative to the knowledge-based approach where experts manually read the narratives and infer the rules and relationships from the dataset. Result This study found at least 8 correlates of auditory hallucination (small correlation coefficients), with the unusual ones being “pain.” The study also found that auditory hallucinations were independent of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, and dissociation, in contrast with the literature. Conclusion This study presents an innovative approach to explore the possible associations between symptoms without the restrictions of (or outside the confines of) traditional diagnostic categories. The study exemplified this by finding the correlates of auditory hallucination. However, any other symptom or experience of interest can be studied similarly. Potential future directions of these findings are discussed in the context of mental healthcare screening and treatment.

Aim: There is growing interest in tailoring psychological interventions for distressing voices and a need for reliable tools to assess phenomenological features which might influence treatment response. This study examines the reliability and internal consistency of the Voice Characterisation Checklist (VoCC), a novel 10-item tool which assesses degree of voice characterisation, identified as relevant to a new wave of relational approaches. Methods: The sample comprised participants experiencing distressing voices, recruited at baseline on the AVATAR2 trial between January 2021 and July 2022 (n = 170). Inter-rater reliability (IRR) and internal consistency analyses (Cronbach's alpha) were conducted. Results: The majority of participants reported some degree of voice personification (94%) with high endorsement of voices as distinct auditory experiences (87%) with basic attributes of gender and age (82%). While most identified a voice intention (75%) and personality (76%), attribution of mental states (35%) to the voice ('What are they thinking?') and a known historical relationship (36%) were less common. The internal consistency of the VoCC was acceptable (10 items, α = 0.71). IRR analysis indicated acceptable to excellent reliability at the item-level for 9/10 items and moderate agreement between raters' global (binary) classification of more vs. less highly characterised voices, κ = 0.549 (95% CI, 0.240-0.859), p < 0.05. Conclusion: The VoCC is a reliable and internally consistent tool for assessing voice characterisation and will be used to test whether voice characterisation moderates treatment outcome to AVATAR therapy. There is potential wider utility within clinical trials of other relational therapies as well as routine clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Catatonia is a complex syndrome notable for a highly variable presentation. Standardized exam and criteria can enumerate possible presentations, but recognition of novel catatonic phenomenon may facilitate better understanding of catatonia’s core features. Case presentation A 61 year-old divorced pensioner with history of schizoaffective disorder was hospitalized for psychosis in the setting of medication noncompliance. While hospitalized, she developed multiple classic catatonia signs such as staring and grimacing, as well as a bizarre echo phenomenon while reading text that improved alongside other catatonic symptoms with treatment. Conclusion Echo phenomenon are a component of catatonia often recognized when presenting as echopraxia or echolalia, but other echo phenomenon are well established in the literature. Recognition or novel catatonic symptoms like this can lead to improved recognition and treatment of catatonia.

Entendre des voix est une expérience encore largement stigmatisée et interprétée sous le prisme de la psychopathologie. Pour autant, les personnes ayant ces vécus ne se reconnaissent pas nécessairement dans les classifications psychiatriques existantes. C'est ainsi qu'est né un mouvement social, baptisé Hearing Voices Movement, qui vise la réappropriation de ce phénomène d'entente de voix sur un versant normatif. À travers l'étude de ce mouvement, cet article revient sur les conceptualisations de l'entente de voix du point de vue de la psychiatrie et de l'approche phénoménologique. L'histoire de ce mouvement et les revendications sur lesquelles ce dernier s'est construit restent marquées par les rapports que ce mouvement entretient avec les approches cliniques. Des innovations terminologiques indiquent la volonté d'émancipation du champ psychiatrique. Les dernières décennies ont connu une transformation de la représentation de l'entente de voix qui permet de réfléchir à de nouvelles formes d'accompagnement par les professionnels de la santé, ce qui n'est pas sans soulever un certain nombre de problématiques cliniques nouvelles, notamment quant aux alliances possibles entre usagers et soignants. Voices hearing is still an stigmatized experience, generally interpreted through the prism of psychopathology. This experience remains associated with serious disorders, including schizophrenia. Today, the latest edition of the DSM-5 attests to the evolution of international psychiatric classifications regarding the place given to these phenomena. These transformations indicate an evolution of the caregiving body on this experience, even if the notion of psychopathological disorder still hovers. Furthermore, this article explores the conceptualization of hearing voices both from psychiatric and from phenomenological perspectives. Despite these recent nosographic developments, the care of people hearing voices has been the subject of criticism and controversy from users of psychiatry. Thus has emerged in this context a social movement, called Hearing Voices , which aim is the reappropriation of this phenomenon on a normative level. People with these experiences do not recognize themselves in existing psychiatric classifications. We review the burgeoning literature on which they rely, which tends to argue that voices are a fairly common experience that occurs independently of a mental illness. Added to this are the many criticisms regarding the care of people experiencing voices (psychiatric abuse, poor effectiveness of drug treatments with significant side effects, etc.). The voices are thus considered to carry meaning for the hearers and in order to understand this meaning, a dialogue seeks to be established with them. Distinctions are made on these experiences, since if some voices generate suffering or any form of pressure on individuals, this would not be the case for all voices where some would be positive or neutral. Distinctions are made on these experiences, since if voices generate suffering or any form of pressure on individuals, this would not be the case for all voices or some would be positive for people. Over the past several decades, this movement has grown globally as voices hearers and users of psychiatry from various countries have built their own organizations to defend the values of the movement on a national level. In addition, these people retrace their steps with the care services in order to offer support that they deem more appropriate to their needs. With this in mind, self-help groups for voice hearers have sprung up. There is a strong heterogeneity from one group to another. Some are carried by users, others by caregivers listening to the claims that have been made by the movement. However, this diversity makes it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of this group. The creation of self-help groups for voice-hearers by caregivers is proof of their willingness to offer support that meets the needs that may have been claimed, but it raises new questions. Is it possible to elaborate on these experiences when the people who continue to "facilitate" the groups are the same people who have been linked to a form of abuse? The history of this movement remains marked by the relationship with the care approaches that have been proposed to it until today. This has led to a transformation of the representation of voice understanding on a transdiagnostic and neutral side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living with the experience of hearing voices without trying to ignore or suppress them is referred to as accepting auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH). It varies depending on the phenomenology of AVH itself; some clients may find it challenging to acquire new coping mechanisms with the voices. Examine the association between the phenomenology of AVH and acceptance or autonomous action among clients with schizophrenia. A descriptive correlational study was conducted on 200 clients with schizophrenia using the following instruments; Sociodemographic and clinical data tools, Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS-AH), and Voices Acceptance and Action Scale (VAAS). Most patients have moderate to severe levels of AVH (95.5 %), with a mean score of 25.34. The emotional characteristics reflected the high mean score (11.24). A highly statistically negative correlation was found between the total Voices Acceptance and Action Scale and severity of AVH (P = −0.448, sig = 0.000). A predictable significant effect of user acceptance and autonomous actions response coping with decreasing the severity of AVH was found (adjusted r square = 0.196, sig = 0.000) and model equation = Severity of Verbal auditory hallucinations = 31.990–0.257 X Total of Voice Acceptance and Autonomous Action Scale (VAAS). The severity of all phenomenological characteristics of AVH can be successfully reduced by using voice acceptance and autonomous action responses rather than resistance or engagement responses. Subsequently, it must be improved and learned by psychiatric nurses the patients with schizophrenia in the hospitals by applying Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a crucial intervention. • Most of patients with schizophrenia have AVH with moderate to severe levels especially emotional characteristics. • Patients with schizophrenia respond with low acceptance and autonomous actions toward AVH. • A strong negative correlation was found between acceptance and autonomous action responses and phenomenological characteristics of AVH. • Acceptance and autonomous action responses must be improved by applying ACT among patients with schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous research suggests that auditory hallucinations are prevalent within both the clinical and general populations. Yet, we know little about how these phenomena are associated with other psychopathology symptoms and experiences. The current study aids investigations towards preventing, predicting and more effectively responding to such distressing occurrences. There have been substantial efforts in the literature to propose models of auditory hallucination and attempts to verify them. However, many of these studies used survey methods that restrict the person's responses to a set of pre-defined criteria or experiences and do not allow exploration of potential important other symptoms beyond them. This is the first study to explore the correlates of auditory hallucination using a qualitative dataset consisting of unrestricted responses of patients about their lived experiences with mental illness. Method: The study used a dataset consisting of 10,933 narratives from patients diagnosed with mental illnesses. For analysis, the study used correlation on the text-based data. This approach is an alternative to the knowledge-based approach where experts manually read the narratives and infer the rules and relationships from the dataset. Result: This study found at least 8 correlates of auditory hallucination (small correlation coefficients), with the unusual ones being "pain." The study also found that auditory hallucinations were independent of obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours, and dissociation, in contrast with the literature. Conclusion: This study presents an innovative approach to explore the possible associations between symptoms without the restrictions of (or outside the confines of) traditional diagnostic categories. The study exemplified this by finding the correlates of auditory hallucination. However, any other symptom or experience of interest can be studied similarly. Potential future directions of these findings are discussed in the context of mental healthcare screening and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimThere is growing interest in tailoring psychological interventions for distressing voices and a need for reliable tools to assess phenomenological features which might influence treatment response. This study examines the reliability and internal consistency of the Voice Characterisation Checklist (VoCC), a novel 10-item tool which assesses degree of voice characterisation, identified as relevant to a new wave of relational approaches.MethodsThe sample comprised participants experiencing distressing voices, recruited at baseline on the AVATAR2 trial between January 2021 and July 2022 (n = 170). Inter-rater reliability (IRR) and internal consistency analyses (Cronbach’s alpha) were conducted.ResultsThe majority of participants reported some degree of voice personification (94%) with high endorsement of voices as distinct auditory experiences (87%) with basic attributes of gender and age (82%). While most identified a voice intention (75%) and personality (76%), attribution of mental states (35%) to the voice (‘What are they thinking?’) and a known historical relationship (36%) were less common. The internal consistency of the VoCC was acceptable (10 items, α = 0.71). IRR analysis indicated acceptable to excellent reliability at the item-level for 9/10 items and moderate agreement between raters’ global (binary) classification of more vs. less highly characterised voices, κ = 0.549 (95% CI, 0.240–0.859), p

Background and hypothesis A plausible cause of distress for voice hearers is listening to and believing the threats and criticisms heard. Qualitative research indicates that patients have understandable reasons to listen. This study aimed to develop the understanding of distress using this listening and believing framework. Measures were developed of listening and believing voices and the reasons, and associations with distress tested. Study design A cross-sectional study of patients hearing derogatory and threatening voices (N  = 591). Listening and Believing–Assessment and Listening and Believing–Reasons item pools were completed, and assessments of distress. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling (SEM) were conducted. Study results 52% (n  = 307) of participants believed their voices most or all the time. Listening and believing had 4 factors: active listening, passive listening, believing, and disregarding. Higher levels of believing, active listening, and particularly passive listening were associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and voice distress. Reasons for listening and believing formed 7 factors: to better understand the threat; being too worn down to resist; to learn something insightful; being alone with time to listen; voices trying to capture attention; voices sounding like real people; and voices sounding like known people. Each type of reason was associated with active listening, passive listening, and believing. SEM showed that feeling worn down in particular accounted for listening and believing. Test–retest reliability of measures was excellent. Conclusions A framework of listening and believing negative voices has the potential to inform the understanding and treatment of voice distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical empathy has been identified as an essential skill for healthcare workers to provide quality healthcare. One teaching strategy for improving clinical empathy towards people with psychiatric disabilities is the Hearing Voices Simulation. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to evaluate change in clinical empathy among occupational therapy students after participating in the Hearing Voices Simulation. Participants (N=71) completed the Jefferson Scale of Empathy- Health Professions Student Version (JSE-HPS) prior to and following the simulation. A paired samples t-test compared whether the change in scale scores was equal to zero. Subsequently, focus groups were used to collect qualitative data. This study found that although already high at baseline, mean JSE-HPS scores increased significantly following the simulation experiences (p=.004). Four main themes emerged from the focus groups: 1) temporary discomfort, 2) improved understanding, 3) reformulating stigmatizing attitudes and sharing with others, and 4) planned changes for fieldwork and future clinical practice. Auditory simulations may increase occupational therapy students’ empathy. Occupational therapy programs may consider the Hearing Voices Simulation or other simulations for improving clinical empathy among students.

Background: The positive eects of both antipsychotic medication and cognitive behavioral therapy in psychosis (CBTp) for people who are distressed by their experience of hearing voices remain limited. As a result, there has been a recent surge in talk-based individual approaches. Many of these continue not to be very well known nor implemented in practice. Some of the approaches may focus more on understanding and dealing constructively with voices, an element that has been identified as potentially helpful by voice hearers. Existing barriers to a wider implementation include both the widespread pathologization of hearing voices and a lack of mental health professionals who have been trained and trusted to carry out these new interventions. Methods: This scoping review aimed to identify and describe a current synthesis of talk-based individual approaches for people who hear voices, including studies independently of method of study or approach, diagnosis of voice hearers nor of the professional background of interventionists. Results: Nine different talk-based approaches were identified. These included: (1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp); (2) AVATAR therapy; (3) Making Sense of Voices (MsV) aka Experience Focused Counselling (EFC); (4) Relating Therapy; (5) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; (6) Smartphone-based Coping-focused Intervention; (7) Prolonged and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; (8) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and (9) Individual Mindfulness-based Program for Voice Hearing. The dierent approaches differed greatly in relation to the number of sessions, length of time oared and the scientific evidence on efficacy. Psychologists represented the main professional group of interventionists. CBTp and the MsV/EFC approach also included health professionals, like nurses, as implementers. Most of the approaches showed positive outcomes in relation to voice related distress levels. None identified overall or voice specific deteriorations. Conclusion: There appears to be a strong case for the implementation of a broader heterogeneity of approaches in practice. This would also be in line with recommendations for recovery focused services and requirements of voice hearers. A greater emphasis on whole systems implementation and thus the involvement of frontline sta, like nurses, in the delivery of these approaches would likely reduce the research-practice implementation gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The principle of Bayesian inference provides a theoretical framework for stable perception in numerous tasks, including sensory–perceptual tasks, sensorimotor, and motor tasks. Efference copy (EC) signals enable organisms to reduce cognitive loading by decreasing the sensory processing of their own actions. In the auditory domain, the sensorimotor prediction error is responsible for false perceptions, such as auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia, while sensory prediction error also leads to auditory phantom perception such as tinnitus. Attenuation of the N1 component in event-related potentials has been suggested as evidence for the integrity of the EC mechanism. The current study investigated the EC mechanism in auditory false perception and phantom perception as a consequence of sensory prediction errors. N1 attenuation failures were present in tinnitus patients with significant hearing impairment and in those with schizophrenia, indicating that phantom perception after sensory deprivation might lead to impairment in the EC mechanism. However, the corresponding neural representation with spatiotemporal patterns presented differently between patients with schizophrenia and tinnitus. Although the present study had several constraints, the results provide a new perspective on neurobiological aspects of abnormal auditory perception resulting from deficits in predictive coding. In this study, we hypothesized that top-down sensory prediction error due to peripheral hearing loss might influence sensorimotor integration using the efference copy (EC) signals as functional connections between auditory and motor brain areas. Using neurophysiological methods, we demonstrated that the auditory responses to self-generated sound were not suppressed in a group of patients with tinnitus accompanied by significant hearing impairment and in a schizophrenia group. However, the response was attenuated in a group with tinnitus accompanied by mild hearing impairment, similar to a healthy control group. The bias of attentional networks to self-generated sound was also observed in the subjects with tinnitus with significant hearing impairment compared to those with mild hearing impairment and healthy subjects, but it did not reach the notable disintegration found in those in the schizophrenia group. Even though the present study had significant constraints in that we did not include hearing loss subjects without tinnitus, these results might suggest that auditory deafferentation (hearing loss) may influence sensorimotor integration process using EC signals. However, the impaired sensorimotor integration in subjects with tinnitus with significant hearing impairment may have resulted from aberrant auditory signals due to sensory loss, not fundamental deficits in the reafference system, as the auditory attention network to self-generated sound is relatively well preserved in these subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) can present in a variety of ways and is challenging to diagnose. While MRIs are the gold standard for detecting structural lesions and EEGs can identify epileptiform discharges, relying solely on these diagnostic methods can result in underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis of the condition. Seizures with motor components may manifest as unusual behavior; anxiety, psychosis, and other psychiatric conditions can occur in conjunction with or independently of seizure activity. In cases where diagnostic testing yields negative results but the history strongly suggests seizure-like activity, practitioners should not hesitate to initiate antiepileptic medications. Here, we present the case of a patient who exhibited behavioral problems, including shouting religious slogans and experiencing recurrent loss of consciousness, either occurring together or separately, while lacking awareness. The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes and no relevant family history. An extensive multidisciplinary evaluation was performed, including EEG and MRI, all of which returned normal results. Given the high clinical suspicion of TLE, the patient was started on the antiepileptic medication divalproex sodium. After six months of treatment, there was a significant improvement in all symptoms. This case highlights the importance of considering TLE in patients with suggestive clinical features even when initial diagnostic tests are normal and underscores the potential efficacy of early antiepileptic treatment in managing symptoms effectively., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Khan et al.)

BackgroundThe positive effects of both antipsychotic medication and cognitive behavioral therapy in psychosis (CBTp) for people who are distressed by their experience of hearing voices remain limited. As a result, there has been a recent surge in talk-based individual approaches. Many of these continue not to be very well known nor implemented in practice. Some of the approaches may focus more on understanding and dealing constructively with voices, an element that has been identified as potentially helpful by voice hearers. Existing barriers to a wider implementation include both the widespread pathologization of hearing voices and a lack of mental health professionals who have been trained and trusted to carry out these new interventions.MethodsThis scoping review aimed to identify and describe a current synthesis of talk-based individual approaches for people who hear voices, including studies independently of method of study or approach, diagnosis of voice hearers nor of the professional background of interventionists.ResultsNine different talk-based approaches were identified. These included: (1) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp); (2) AVATAR therapy; (3) Making Sense of Voices (MsV) aka Experience Focused Counselling (EFC); (4) Relating Therapy; (5) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; (6) Smartphone-based Coping-focused Intervention; (7) Prolonged and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; (8) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and (9) Individual Mindfulness-based Program for Voice Hearing. The different approaches differed greatly in relation to the number of sessions, length of time offered and the scientific evidence on efficacy. Psychologists represented the main professional group of interventionists. CBTp and the MsV/EFC approach also included health professionals, like nurses, as implementers. Most of the approaches showed positive outcomes in relation to voice related distress levels. None identified overall or voice specific deteriorations.ConclusionThere appears to be a strong case for the implementation of a broader heterogeneity of approaches in practice. This would also be in line with recommendations for recovery focused services and requirements of voice hearers. A greater emphasis on whole systems implementation and thus the involvement of frontline staff, like nurses, in the delivery of these approaches would likely reduce the research-practice implementation gap.

The family of epidermal growth factor (EGF) including neuregulin-1 are implicated in the neuropathology of schizophrenia. We established a rat model of schizophrenia by exposing perinatal rats to EGF and reported that the auditory pathophysiological traits of this model such as prepulse inhibition, auditory steady-state response, and mismatch negativity are relevant to those of schizophrenia. We assessed the activation status of the auditory cortex in this model, as well as that in patients with schizophrenia, by monitoring the three neural activity-induced proteins: EGR1 (zif268), c-fos, and Arc. Among the activity markers, protein levels of EGR1 were significantly higher at the adult stage in EGF model rats than those in control rats. The group difference was observed despite an EGF model rat and a control rat being housed together, ruling out the contribution of rat vocalization effects. These changes in EGR1 levels were seen to be specific to the auditory cortex of this model. The increase in EGR1 levels were detectable at the juvenile stage and continued until old ages but displayed a peak immediately after puberty, whereas c-fos and Arc levels were nearly indistinguishable between groups at all ages with an exception of Arc decrease at the juvenile stage. A similar increase in EGR1 levels was observed in the postmortem superior temporal cortex of patients with schizophrenia. The commonality of the EGR1 increase indicates that the EGR1 elevation in the auditory cortex might be one of the molecular signatures of this animal model and schizophrenia associating with hallucination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Catatonia is a complex syndrome notable for a highly variable presentation. Standardized exam and criteria can enumerate possible presentations, but recognition of novel catatonic phenomenon may facilitate better understanding of catatonia's core features. Case presentation: A 61 year-old divorced pensioner with history of schizoaffective disorder was hospitalized for psychosis in the setting of medication noncompliance. While hospitalized, she developed multiple classic catatonia signs such as staring and grimacing, as well as a bizarre echo phenomenon while reading text that improved alongside other catatonic symptoms with treatment. Conclusion: Echo phenomenon are a component of catatonia often recognized when presenting as echopraxia or echolalia, but other echo phenomenon are well established in the literature. Recognition or novel catatonic symptoms like this can lead to improved recognition and treatment of catatonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Auditory hallucination is usually associated with psychiatric diseases and organic brain illness. It was rarely found as adverse events of antidepressants. Amitriptyline is considered as one of the first line medications for the psychopharmacotherapy of chronic pain including atypical odontalgia (AO) which shows chronic tooth pain without corresponding abnormalities. Anticholinergic adverse events induced by amitriptyline are usually bearable and not critical since the prescription dose is very low for the patients with AO. This is a first case report about the AO patients who showed auditory hallucination by the low dose of amitriptyline. A 43-years-old female, housewife, complained chronic toothache following dental procedures and was diagnosed as AO. Amitriptyline was initially prescribed 25 mg and gradually increased up to 60 mg with the improvement of AO symptoms in 7 months. Although the temporary recurrence was observed following to the retreatment of prosthodontic dental procedures, it improved in a few weeks. Therefore, the dose of amitriptyline was decreased, and the continuation dose was set 30 mg. In 24 months, the AO symptoms were very much improved; however, she reported that she had been heard the voices at midnight for a year. The voices were neighborhoods' and talking about the noise troubles she had claimed before. She had not realized that the voices were auditory hallucination since they were heard only at midnight infrequent and not bothering her daily life. At the time she reported auditory hallucination, she worried whether organic brain diseases are hiding because the frequency of voices was increased and sometimes occurred in daytime. The adverse event of amitriptyline was suspected since she had never had psychotic symptoms before. Amitriptyline was decreased and continued with the dose of 25 mg. Magnetic resonance imaging and psychiatric consultation revealed no abnormality of brain and in psychiatric aspects. After final prosthodontic treatment, the amitriptyline was discontinued in 30 months. Two months after the discontinuation, auditory hallucination was almost disappeared with no recurrence of AO. The present case report suggests that amitriptyline has possibility to induce auditory hallucination even in conventional dose throughout the treatment of chronic pain including AO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We report the case of a pregnant woman who experienced auditory hallucinations only while suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum. To the best of our knowledge, the present report is the first report of a case of obvious auditory hallucinations and hyperemesis gravidarum at the same time in a pregnant woman who had not been diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder. The patient was a 24‐year‐old pregnant woman with no history of psychiatric disorder. Two years prior to this admission, she became pregnant for the first time, and she was admitted to an obstetrics clinic due to severe hyperemesis gravidarum. She developed mild auditory hallucinations at the same time. After she gave birth, the auditory hallucinations disappeared. When she was 24 years old, she became pregnant again. She suffered from severe hyperemesis gravidarum from the early stage of pregnancy. At 20 weeks of pregnancy, she visited the Department of Psychiatry of our hospital for a detailed psychiatric evaluation and treatment because her moderate auditory hallucinations had relapsed. We administered an antipsychotic agent, perospirone, to treat the auditory hallucinations, which disappeared, although the hyperemesis gravidarum persisted until childbirth. After childbirth, perospirone treatment was discontinued, and her auditory hallucinations did not relapse. The auditory hallucinations may have occurred as a result of complicated biological and psychosocial factors. Physicians should carefully evaluate psychotic symptoms, such as auditory hallucinations, not only during the postpartum period but also throughout the course of pregnancy.

Background: Auditory verbal hallucinations are not a unitary phenomenon and can be further differentiated into certain clinical characteristics, viz., frequency, intensity, control, tone, distractibility, distress, and clarity. These clinical characteristics manifest in varying degrees in different psychiatric disorders. Aim: To study the characteristics of auditory hallucinations in Indian patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Materials and Methods: By purposive sampling, 140 patients of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder each were included in the study. Subjects were assessed cross-sectionally using sociodemographic proforma and characteristics of auditory hallucination scale. Results: Characteristics of auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia patients were significantly different from those of bipolar affective disorder patients in the domains of frequency, intensity, tone, self-control, clarity, distractibility, and distress. Conclusion: Characteristics of auditory hallucinations differ in all domains between schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder.

Auditory hallucination is usually associated with psychiatric diseases and organic brain illness. It was rarely found as adverse events of antidepressants. Amitriptyline is considered as one of the first line medications for the psychopharmacotherapy of chronic pain including atypical odontalgia (AO) which shows chronic tooth pain without corresponding abnormalities. Anticholinergic adverse events induced by amitriptyline are usually bearable and not critical since the prescription dose is very low for the patients with AO. This is a first case report about the AO patients who showed auditory hallucination by the low dose of amitriptyline. A 43-years-old female, housewife, complained chronic toothache following dental procedures and was diagnosed as AO. Amitriptyline was initially prescribed 25 mg and gradually increased up to 60 mg with the improvement of AO symptoms in 7 months. Although the temporary recurrence was observed following to the retreatment of prosthodontic dental procedures, it improved in a few weeks. Therefore, the dose of amitriptyline was decreased, and the continuation dose was set 30 mg. In 24 months, the AO symptoms were very much improved; however, she reported that she had been heard the voices at midnight for a year. The voices were neighborhoods' and talking about the noise troubles she had claimed before. She had not realized that the voices were auditory hallucination since they were heard only at midnight infrequent and not bothering her daily life. At the time she reported auditory hallucination, she worried whether organic brain diseases are hiding because the frequency of voices was increased and sometimes occurred in daytime. The adverse event of amitriptyline was suspected since she had never had psychotic symptoms before. Amitriptyline was decreased and continued with the dose of 25 mg. Magnetic resonance imaging and psychiatric consultation revealed no abnormality of brain and in psychiatric aspects. After final prosthodontic treatment, the amitriptyline was discontinued in 30 months. Two months after the discontinuation, auditory hallucination was almost disappeared with no recurrence of AO. The present case report suggests that amitriptyline has possibility to induce auditory hallucination even in conventional dose throughout the treatment of chronic pain including AO.

This qualitative study investigates the experiences and possible effects of taking part in Voice-hearing Groups. Participants over the age of 18 who agreed to participate and attended the groups for at least 3 months were included in the research. Fourteen interviews were carried out in groups at Psychosocial Support Centers until saturation, and then transcribed and analyzed using Gadamerian hermeneutics. The analysis highlighted five argument cores: arrival in the group; mode of operation; use of medication; and meanings and effects. Results shown that these groups can be a strategy for the care and recovery of individuals, allowing their experiences to be recognized and reframed, promoting clinical improvement, user embracement, sharing among peers, and socialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cognitive model of auditory hallucinations posits that the beliefs or appraisal of the voices plays an important role in the determination of consequent reactions. These beliefs are explored effectively through “Beliefs About Voices Questionnaire-Revised (BAVQ-R).” However, Hindi adaptation and psychometric evaluation of this tool are yet to be done. Hence, the present study aimed at translating the BAVQ-R in Hindi language and assessing the psychometric properties of the same. Methodology: The original version was translated in Hindi language using translation–back-translation method. This translated version of BAVQ-R was then administered to 51 schizophrenia patients with a history of active auditory hallucinations. All the participants were selected from Central India Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), using purposive sampling technique. Initially, the informed consent was taken from the patients, followed by the administration of the Hindi version of BAVQ-R and Psychotic Symptom Rating Scale (PSYRATS). Finally, the psychometric properties, e.g., internal consistency reliability, divergent validity, and convergent validity were calculated. Results: The internal consistency reliability was within the range of 0.6–0.94, as indicated by Cronbach's alpha. The divergent validity was high as malevolent voices and engagement feelings and behavior towards the voices were negatively correlated (r = −0.56, P < 0.01), and benevolent voices significantly negatively correlated with resistance feeling and behavior towards the voices (r = −0.74, P < 0.01). Convergent validity was measured by correlating the subscales of BAVQ-R with the dimensions of PSYRATS. Pearson's correlation indicated significant associations between the dimensions of the two scales. Conclusion: The Hindi version of BAVQ-R has good psychometric properties. The tool has good internal consistency along with high divergent and convergent validity.

Enormous efforts have been made to unveil the etiology of auditory hallucinations (AHs), and multiple genetic and neural factors have already been shown to have their own roles. Previous studies have shown that AHs in schizophrenia vary from those in other disorders, suggesting that they have unique features and possibly distinguishable mechanisms worthy of further investigation. In this review, we intend to offer a comprehensive summary of current findings related to AHs in schizophrenia from aspects of genetics and transcriptome, neurophysiology (neurometabolic and electroencephalogram studies), and neuroimaging (structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies and transcriptome–neuroimaging association study). Main findings include gene polymorphisms, glutamate level change, electroencephalographic alterations, and abnormalities of white matter fasciculi, cortical structure, and cerebral activities, especially in multiple regions, including auditory and language networks. More solid and comparable research is needed to replicate and integrate ongoing findings from multidimensional levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enormous efforts have been made to unveil the etiology of auditory hallucinations (AHs), and multiple genetic and neural factors have already been shown to have their own roles. Previous studies have shown that AHs in schizophrenia vary from those in other disorders, suggesting that they have unique features and possibly distinguishable mechanisms worthy of further investigation. In this review, we intend to offer a comprehensive summary of current findings related to AHs in schizophrenia from aspects of genetics and transcriptome, neurophysiology (neurometabolic and electroencephalogram studies), and neuroimaging (structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies and transcriptome–neuroimaging association study). Main findings include gene polymorphisms, glutamate level change, electroencephalographic alterations, and abnormalities of white matter fasciculi, cortical structure, and cerebral activities, especially in multiple regions, including auditory and language networks. More solid and comparable research is needed to replicate and integrate ongoing findings from multidimensional levels.

In this study, we hypothesized that top-down sensory prediction error due to peripheral hearing loss might influence sensorimotor integration using the efference copy (EC) signals as functional connections between auditory and motor brain areas. Using neurophysiological methods, we demonstrated that the auditory responses to self-generated sound were not suppressed in a group of patients with tinnitus accompanied by significant hearing impairment and in a schizophrenia group. However, the response was attenuated in a group with tinnitus accompanied by mild hearing impairment, similar to a healthy control group. The bias of attentional networks to self-generated sound was also observed in the subjects with tinnitus with significant hearing impairment compared to those with mild hearing impairment and healthy subjects, but it did not reach the notable disintegration found in those in the schizophrenia group. Even though the present study had significant constraints in that we did not include hearing loss subjects without tinnitus, these results might suggest that auditory deafferentation (hearing loss) may influence sensorimotor integration process using EC signals. However, the impaired sensorimotor integration in subjects with tinnitus with significant hearing impairment may have resulted from aberrant auditory signals due to sensory loss, not fundamental deficits in the reafference system, as the auditory attention network to self-generated sound is relatively well preserved in these subjects.

Abstract The main symptoms of Meige's syndrome are involuntary eye blinking with muddled speech and uncontrollable contraction of the platysma muscle characterized by segmental, primarily oromandibular, dystonia (hyperkinesia). It can also develop after long‐term medication of first‐ and second‐generation antipsychotics. Here, we report the case of a Japanese female schizophrenic patient comorbid with Meige's syndrome and hyperthyroidism. We discuss the relationship between the three diseases, that is, schizophrenia, Meige's syndrome, and hyperthyroidism. Our intention is to consider the important role of the cerebral basal ganglia, where little attention has been given in regard to schizophrenia and Meige's syndrome. A part of this article was presented in a poster section at the joint congress of the 28th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neuropsychopharmacology held in 2018.

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezi (TRSM) ve poliklinikte takip edilen şizofreni tanılı hastalarda yaşanan sorunlar, işitsel varsanılar ve sosyal destek algısının belirlenmesidir.Gereç ve Yöntem: Karşılaştırmalı-tanımlayıcı tipte olan bu araştırma, iki TRSM ve bir üniversite hastanesi yetişkin psikiyatri polikliniğinde Ocak-Haziran 2017 tarihleri arasında yürütülmüştür. TRSM’de (n=33) ve poliklinikte (n=33) takip edilen toplam 66 hasta örneklemi oluşturmuştur. Araştırmanın verileri Hasta Bilgi Formu ve Çok Boyutlu Algılanan Sosyal Destek Ölçeği ile toplanmıştır.Bulgular: TRSM ve poliklinik grubundaki hastalar yaş ortalaması, cinsiyet, eğitim durumu, medeni durum, evde birlikte yaşanan kişiler, ailede ruhsal hastalığı olan başka bir bireyin bulunması, hastalık ve tedavi ile ilgili özellikler açısından benzerdir. Hastaların çoğu hastalığın nedenini “bilmiyorum / hatırlamıyorum/ büyüler/ Allah tarafından oldu” şeklinde açıklamıştır. Poliklinik grubundaki hastaların çoğu (%78.6), TRSM grubundaki hastaların ise yarıdan biraz fazlası (%51.5 işitsel varsanıların nedenini “bilmiyorum / cinler/ büyüler/ çevredeki kötülükler” şeklinde açıklamıştır. Bu oranlar arasındaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmuştur.Sonuç: TRSM’de takip edilen hastalar ile poliklinikten takip edilen hastalar, hastalığa bağlı yaşanan sorunlar ve baş etme özellikleri yönünden benzerlik göstermektedir.

Les hallucinations acoustico-verbales (HAVs) ou phénomène d'entente de voix doivent être considérées comme relevant d'un continuum entre le normal et le pathologique et cliniquement comme un phénomène transdiagnostique. Les études sur le sujet montrent que l'on retrouve ce phénomène aussi bien en population générale que dans des troubles mentaux n'appartenant pas à la sphère des psychoses comme le stress post-traumatique ou le trouble de la personnalité borderline. Les traitements pharmacologiques, notamment les neuroleptiques, sont actuellement considérés comme les traitements de première intention des HAVs. Il s'avère cependant qu'un nombre conséquent d'individus sous neuroleptiques continuent d'entendre des voix, phénomène souvent associé à une forte détresse émotionnelle. L'objectif de cette revue est de présenter et discuter l'efficacité des interventions psychologiques de type comportemental et cognitif dans la prise en charge des HAVs, principalement en complément des traitements pharmacologiques. Ces interventions comprennent principalement des techniques d'autogestion des voix et des techniques classiques issues des thérapies comportementales et cognitives (TCC) comme : (1) la modification des croyances envers les voix (notamment les voix qui ordonnent, qui sont perçues comme malveillantes, omniscientes et omnipotentes), et les croyances négatives envers soi ; et (2) à modifier les comportements interpersonnels entre l'entendeur de voix et celles-ci, notamment en augmentant les comportements d'assertivité, via des techniques de jeux de rôles ou l'utilisation de nouvelles technologies interactives (thérapie par avatar). Enfin, les barrières à l'implémentation des TCC des HAVs sont discutées et les auteurs proposent un ensemble de recommandations pratiques sur la TCC des voix à l'adresse des cliniciens. Despite the effectiveness of antipsychotic treatments in the management of auditory hallucinations, a significant number of individuals diagnosed with psychosis continue to hear voices associated with high emotional distress. The phenomenon of voice hearing must be considered as part of a continuum between normal and pathological and at a clinical level as a transdiagnostic phenomenon. Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses highlight the effectiveness of psychological interventions in the management of auditory hallucinations. These interventions include voice self-management techniques for voice hearers and techniques from traditional behavioural and cognitive therapies such as: (1) changing beliefs about voices (including command voices, which are perceived as omniscient, omnipotent and malicious), and negative beliefs about self; as well as (2) to modify the relating of the hearer towards the voice, including increasing assertive voice behaviours through role-playing between the clinician and the voice hearer or the use of new interactive technologies such as avatars. Barriers to the implementation of CBTs for voices are discussed and the authors propose recommendations on the use of psychological interventions for hallucinations for clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

La psychologie anglo-saxonne a produit un nombre conséquent d'études mettant en évidence l'implication de mécanismes psychologiques dans le développement et le maintien des hallucinations acoustico-verbales (HAVs), aussi appelées phénomène d'entente de voix. S'il est souvent considéré, pour des raisons historiques, que les HAVs sont une des caractéristiques principales des troubles psychotiques et notamment schizophréniques, les études épidémiologiques montrent que celles-ci sont également extrêmement prévalentes dans de nombreuses autres populations cliniques (e.g. trouble bipolaire, trouble de stress post-traumatique, trouble de personnalité borderline) et neurologiques (e.g. Maladie de Parkinson), tout comme au sein de la population générale. Cependant, les HAVs restent encore, en pratique courante, associées à la psychose, et d'un point de vue étiologique à des « dysfonctionnements neurobiologiques complexes ». L'objectif principal de cette revue est de faire une synthèse narrative et intégrative des différents modèles psychologiques faisant actuellement consensus sur les HAVs. Plus précisément, nous décrirons (1) le rôle des croyances à propos de l'expérience d'entente de voix et les croyances à propos de soi, (2) l'expérience d'entente de voix comme devant être comprise comme un phénomène fondamentalement relationnel entre l'entendeur de voix et la voix elle-même, (3) le rôle des émotions et des stratégies de régulation émotionnelle, et (4) le rôle des expériences passées traumatiques et de la dissociation. Nous terminons cette revue par une brève critique argumentée de la conception des HAVs telle qu'elle est actuellement adoptée en psychiatrie. Anglo-Saxon psychology has produced a significant number of studies showing the involvement of psychological mechanisms in the development and maintenance of auditory hallucinations (voice-hearing). Likewise, numerous studies have shown that hallucinations are also described in other psychiatric (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Parkinson's disease) clinical populations as well as in a minority of the general population. However, despite these advances, hallucinations are still considered as a specific characteristic of schizophrenia, which in most cases, is understood from a biological point of view. For this reason, in this review, we are specifically interested in the psychological models of auditory hallucinations from a transdiagnostic point of view. More specifically, we will describe (1) the role of beliefs about voices and self-schemas, (2) the experience of voice understood as a fundamentally relational phenomenon between the voice hearer and the voices, (3) the role of emotions and emotional regulation strategies, and, finally, (4) the role of past traumatic experiences and dissociation. Regarding the role of beliefs about voices and self-schemas, numerous studies are showing that more important than the experience of hearing voices it is how the individual appraisal their experience that will ultimately impact on how they will cope with the experiences and how they will feel about it (distressed or not). Voices appraised as malevolent and powerful are more often associated with avoidant, escape, confrontation, and compliance coping strategies. Moreover, they are also associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety regardless of the frequency of hallucinations and duration of the disorder. Besides the beliefs about the voices, how the individual perceives him/herself is also essential. It has been shown, for example, that the more individuals feel depressed and inferior in comparison to others in interpersonal relationships, the more inferior they feel about their voices. The relational approach proposed that the experience of voice understood as a fundamentally relational phenomenon between the voice hearer and the voices. Indeed, phenomenological studies have been able to show that voice-hearers describe voices as possessing human characteristics. As a result, voice-hearers often develop a relationship of virtual intimacy with their voices, which often seems to be complex and characterised by a certain ambivalence similar to the interpersonal relationships encountered in everyday life. Thus, current research suggests that it is essential to take into account these relational aspects when working with voice-hearers. Alongside cognitive and relational variables, emotional states and processes play a significant role in the development and maintenance of auditory hallucinations. Indeed, it has been shown that stress, anxiety and depression are predictors of hallucinations. Also, increased use of non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies may play a major role in the phenomenon of voice agreement. Studies have demonstrated that emotional regulation strategies such as experiential avoidance and abstract rumination seem to contribute to the increased frequency of hallucinations and associated distress. Finally, there is now strong evidence showing the involvement of past adverse experiences in the onset and content of hallucinations. In this framework, dissociation is seen as a protective mechanism that allows individuals to psychologically detach themselves from events that they cannot cope with. Consequently, the experience is attributed to external sources, ultimately leading to the phenomenon of voice-hearing. In summary, in this brief review, we have tried to present the best validated psychological models for understanding the experience of voice agreement. The goal is to provide information on how these psychological processes can help us to the adoption of a person-centred approach in mental health care that allows the person to describe their experiences in their own words and thus formulate an understanding of their suffering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musical Ear Syndrome (MES) is an uncommon phenomenon described as the perception of auditory musical sensations not corresponding to any external stimulus. It seems to be more frequent in case of profound hearing loss. Our objective was to evaluate prevalence, characteristics and risk factors in a population of cochlear implant patients. A retrospective study was conducted in cochlear implant patients, who were adult (> 18 years) in 2020 and underwent cochlear implantation between 1993 and 2019. We analyzed the presence and characteristics of MES. 118 of the 358 patients (33%) perceived or had perceived auditory musical sensations: 71 (19.8%) before, 100 (28%) after, and 53 (14.8%) both before and after implantation. The musical auditory sensations were usually short and well-tolerated, resembling instrumental music, and occurring several times a day. Thirteen patients (11%) considered them intolerable. Fatigue was a triggering factor in 40 patients (33.9%). Personal and medical characteristics, type of implantation, make of implant, etiology and tinnitus did not emerge as risk factors. On the other hand, MES+ patients were significatively younger (56 ± 17.4 years versus 61.9 ± 17.9 years; P = 0.0009). Despite the phenomenon, patients were satisfied with implant functioning and subjective auditory performance was not affected. Prevalence of Musical Ear Syndrome was high in cochlear implant patients, and especially in younger subjects. It is essential to improve knowledge of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Interesting data and theories have emerged regarding auditory hallucinations (AHs) in patients with schizophrenia. The possibility that these patients may have changes in the anatomy of the auditory cortex and/or subcortical structures of the central auditory nervous system and present with deficits on audiological tests is important information to the audiology community. However, it seems clear that, in general, audiologists are not sufficiently aware of these findings. Purpose There are two main purposes of this article: (1) to educate audiologists about AHs related to schizophrenia and related issues, and (2) to encourage audiologists and hearing scientists to become involved in the evaluation and research of AHs. This fascinating disorder is one in which audiologists/hearing scientists are well suited to make a significant contribution. Research Design A review and synthesis of the literature was conducted. Relevant literature was identified through PubMed, Google Scholar, as well as independent book chapters and article searches. Keywords driving the searches were AHs, auditory illusions, verbal and musical hallucinations, schizophrenia, and central auditory disorders. Given the currency of the topic, the information collected was primarily between 1990 and 2020. Study Sample The review is organized around categorization, prevalence, models, mechanisms, anatomy, pathophysiology, and audiological correlates related to AHs. Data Collection and Analysis Searches were conducted using well-known search engines and manual searches by each author. This information on AHs was then analyzed collectively by the authors for useful background and relevance, as well as important for the field of audiology. Results Several anatomical, physiological, and functional imaging studies have shown compromise of the auditory cortex in those with schizophrenia and AHs. Potentially related to this, are studies that demonstrated sub-par performance on behavioral audiologic measures for this unique clinical population. These findings align well with the kind of hearing disorder for which audiologists are well-trained to make significant contributions. Conclusion Neurobiological and audiological evidence is accumulating on patients with schizophrenia and AH potentially rendering it as both an auditory and psychiatric disorder. Audiologists should consider expanding their horizon and playing a role in the clinical investigation of this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Auditory verbal hallucinations are not a unitary phenomenon and can be further differentiated into certain clinical characteristics, viz., frequency, intensity, control, tone, distractibility, distress, and clarity. These clinical characteristics manifest in varying degrees in different psychiatric disorders. Aim: To study the characteristics of auditory hallucinations in Indian patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Materials and Methods: By purposive sampling, 140 patients of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder each were included in the study. Subjects were assessed cross-sectionally using sociodemographic proforma and characteristics of auditory hallucination scale. Results: Characteristics of auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia patients were significantly different from those of bipolar affective disorder patients in the domains of frequency, intensity, tone, self-control, clarity, distractibility, and distress. Conclusion: Characteristics of auditory hallucinations differ in all domains between schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Functional connectivity abnormalities between Broca's and Wernicke's areas and the putamen revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are related to auditory hallucinations (AH). In long-term schizophrenia, reduced white matter structural integrity revealed by diffusion imaging in left arcuate fasciculus (connecting Broca's and Wernicke's areas) is likely related to AH. The structural integrity of connections with putamen and their relation to AH are unknown. Little is known about this relationship in first-episode psychosis (FEP), although auditory transcallosal connections were reported to play a role. White matter in the Broca's-Wernicke's-putamen language-related circuit and auditory transcallosal fibers was examined to investigate associations with AH in FEP. Methods White matter connectivity was measured in 40 FEP and 32 matched HC using generalized fractional anisotropy (gFA) derived from diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). Results FEP and HC did not differ in gFA in any fiber bundle. In FEP, AH severity was significantly inversely related to gFA in auditory transcallosal fibers and left arcuate fasciculus. Although the right hemisphere arcuate fasciculus-AH association did not attain significance, the left and right arcuate fasciculus associations were not significantly different. Conclusions Despite overall normal gFA in FEP, AH severity was significantly related to gFA in transcallosal auditory fibers and the left hemisphere connection between Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Other bilateral tracts' gFA were weakly associated with AH. At the first psychotic episode, AH are more robustly associated with left hemisphere arcuate fasciculus and interhemispheric auditory fibers microstructural deficits, likely reflecting mistiming of information flow between language-related cortical centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This article aimed to analyze hearing voices experiences in patients of a Psychosocial Care Center. In this regard, ten people were interviewed. The qualitative method was used, with content analysis. Four categories were chosen: “origin” of voices, phenomenology of voices, coping strategies, and family support. Hallucinatory experiences have emerged in contexts of violence and isolation. Topographic variables of the voices indicate possibilities of understanding the phenomenon. The movement is a basic condition to deal with the experiences. Family support is key to cope with difficulties. It is necessary to qualify the auditory hallucination as a meaningful experience, which must be respected in any intervention that intends care.

Introduction: Hallucination is a dangerous type of mental disorder. because it has various impacts, lead to suicide, violent behavior and threaten the environment. Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of nursing care on clients with sensory perception disorders: auditory hallucinations in Bantur village. Method: The design used is One Groups Pretest-Posttest Design, with a simple random sampling technique. The sample in this study amounted to 48 respondents. Analysis of the data used in this study used the Wilcoxon test. Result: Based on the test resulted with Wilcoxon p value

Abstract Introduction Schizophrenia patients often experience auditory hallucinations (AHs) and visual hallucinations (VHs). However, the degree and type of brain and retinal alterations associated with combined AHs and VHs in schizophrenia patients remain unknown. There is an urgent need for a study that investigates the trajectory of brain and retinal alterations in patients with first‐episode untreated schizophrenia accompanied by combined AHs and VHs (FUSCHAV). Methods FUSCHAV patients (n = 120), divided into four groups according to AH and VH symptom severity (severe AHs combined with severe VHs [FUSCHSASV, 20 patients]; middle‐to‐moderate AHs combined with severe VHs [FUSCHMASV, 23 patients]; severe AHs combined with middle‐to‐moderate VHs [FUSCHSAMV, 28 patients]; and middle‐to‐moderate AHs combined with middle‐to‐moderate VHs [FUSCHMAMV, 26 patients]), were compared to healthy controls (n = 30). Gray matter volume (GMV) was adopted for brain structural alteration assessment. Total retinal thickness was adopted as a measure of retinal thickness impairment. Results In the pilot study, the rate of GMV reduction showed an inverted U‐shaped pattern across the different FUSCHAV patient groups according to AH and VH severity. The degree of retinal impairment remained stable across the groups. More notably, in the secondary follow‐up study, we observed that, after 6 months of treatment with antipsychotic agents, all the GMV reduction‐related differences across the different patient groups disappeared, and both GMV and retinal thickness demonstrated a tendency to deteriorate. Conclusions These findings indicate the need for heightened alertness on brain and retinal impairments in patients with FUSCHAV. Further deteriorations induced by antipsychotic agent treatment should be monitored in clinical practice.

Aims and objectives: To develop a Chinese version of Auditory Hallucination Risk Assessment Scale and evaluate its psychometric properties. Background: Auditory hallucination, a common symptom in schizophrenia, has the potential to cause harm to patients and the people around them. However, there has been a paucity of suitable instrument developed in Asian region that can comprehensively and reliably assess its risk and inform interventions. Design: This study involved 2 stages, the development of the Auditory Hallucination Risk Assessment Scale (AHRAS) and testing the psychometric properties of AHRAS. We followed STROBE guidelines in reporting the study. Methods: Auditory Hallucination Risk Assessment Scale items were developed based on Symptom Management Theory, systematic literature review and findings of a qualitative study on the experience of auditory hallucinations. The items were evaluated by content validity. Auditory Hallucination Risk Assessment Scale was then tested for construct validity, concurrent validity, predictive validity, internal consistency and test–retest reliability in a convenience sample of 156 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Results: The final version of AHRAS has nine items. Two factors were extracted from AHRAS, which explained 57.74% of the total variance. The score of AHRAS was strongly correlated with that of the Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales‐Auditory Hallucinations. The area under the curve was 0.90 for the overall AHRAS score. Sensitivity (86.5%) and specificity (80.0%) were maximal for a mean overall AHRAS score of 13.5, suggesting that this is an appropriate threshold for differentiation. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was 0.82, and intra‐class correlation coefficient for test–retest reliability was 0.84. Conclusions: Auditory Hallucination Risk Assessment Scale has good reliability and validity. It can be used in clinical settings in China and beyond to assess the risk of auditory hallucinations. Relevance to clinical practice: Auditory Hallucination Risk Assessment Scale can serve as a tool for nurses and other healthcare professionals to identify patients with high‐risk auditory hallucinations, monitor the changes of risk and inform nursing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical spontaneous activities in resting‐state networks may play a role in auditory hallucinations (AHs), but networks relevant to AHs are not apparent. Given the debating role of the default mode network (DMN) in AHs, a parietal memory network (PMN) may better echo cognitive theories of AHs in schizophrenia, because PMN is spatially adjacent to the DMN and more relevant to memory processing or information integration. To examine whether PMN is more relevant to AHs than DMN, we characterized these intrinsic networks in AHs with 59 first‐episode, drug‐naïve schizophrenics (26 AH+ and 33 AH−) and 60 healthy participants in resting‐state fMRI. We separated the PMN, DMN, and auditory network (AN) using independent component analysis, and compared their functional connectivity across the three groups. We found that only AH+ patients displayed dysconnectivity in PMN, both AH+ and AH− patients exhibited dysfunctions of AN, but neither patient group showed abnormal connectivity within DMN. The connectivity of PMN significantly correlated with memory performance of the patients. Further region‐of‐interest analyses confirmed that the connectivity between the core regions of PMN, the left posterior cingulate gyrus and the left precuneus, was significantly lower only in the AH+ group. In exploratory correlation analysis, this functional connectivity metric significantly correlated with the severity of AH symptoms. The results implicate that compared to the DMN, the PMN is more relevant to the AH symptoms in schizophrenia, and further provides a more precise potential brain modulation target for the intervention of AH symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia patients often experience auditory hallucinations (AHs) and visual hallucinations (VHs). However, the degree and type of brain and retinal alterations associated with combined AHs and VHs in schizophrenia patients remain unknown. There is an urgent need for a study that investigates the trajectory of brain and retinal alterations in patients with first‐episode untreated schizophrenia accompanied by combined AHs and VHs (FUSCHAV). Methods: FUSCHAV patients (n = 120), divided into four groups according to AH and VH symptom severity (severe AHs combined with severe VHs [FUSCHSASV, 20 patients]; middle‐to‐moderate AHs combined with severe VHs [FUSCHMASV, 23 patients]; severe AHs combined with middle‐to‐moderate VHs [FUSCHSAMV, 28 patients]; and middle‐to‐moderate AHs combined with middle‐to‐moderate VHs [FUSCHMAMV, 26 patients]), were compared to healthy controls (n = 30). Gray matter volume (GMV) was adopted for brain structural alteration assessment. Total retinal thickness was adopted as a measure of retinal thickness impairment. Results: In the pilot study, the rate of GMV reduction showed an inverted U‐shaped pattern across the different FUSCHAV patient groups according to AH and VH severity. The degree of retinal impairment remained stable across the groups. More notably, in the secondary follow‐up study, we observed that, after 6 months of treatment with antipsychotic agents, all the GMV reduction‐related differences across the different patient groups disappeared, and both GMV and retinal thickness demonstrated a tendency to deteriorate. Conclusions: These findings indicate the need for heightened alertness on brain and retinal impairments in patients with FUSCHAV. Further deteriorations induced by antipsychotic agent treatment should be monitored in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]