Same or Different? Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Healthy and Psychotic Individuals

Dopaminergic Function in the Psychosis Spectrum: An [18F]-DOPA Imaging Study in Healthy Individuals With Auditory Hallucinations

“…Previous findings in subjects with nonclinical persistent auditory verbal hallucinations have found strong similarities in the phenomenology of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) between these nonpsychotic individuals and schizophrenia patients. 4 A recent functional magnetic resonance imaging study revealed the same pattern of cortical neural responses during hallucinations in these nonpsychotic individuals as those seen during hallucinations in patients with psychotic disorders. 31 Taken with our findings, this suggests that cortical abnormalities, rather than alterations in striatal dopamine synthesis capacity, are associated with hallucinations in nonclinical subjects, although alterations in other aspects of the dopaminergic system remain possible.…”

“…However, while there are de facto differences between our hallucinating group and patients, most notably in the lack of distress or disruption caused by the voices in the hallucinating group, the number of voices, loudness, location, and familiarity of the voices are similar to those seen in patients with psychotic disorders. 4 Some of the hallucinating group reported that the hallucinations began in early childhood, and early age of onset of hallucinations has been found to differentiate nonpsychotic hallucinating individuals from patients with psychotic disorders. 4 While this suggests that age of onset is an important factor to consider before extrapolating findings in nonpsychotic hallucinating subjects to psychosis, people who go on to develop schizophreniform disorders also report hallucinations in childhood, 35 albeit less frequently, indicating that this is not a categorical distinction between clinical and nonclinical subjects.…”

“…4 Some of the hallucinating group reported that the hallucinations began in early childhood, and early age of onset of hallucinations has been found to differentiate nonpsychotic hallucinating individuals from patients with psychotic disorders. 4 While this suggests that age of onset is an important factor to consider before extrapolating findings in nonpsychotic hallucinating subjects to psychosis, people who go on to develop schizophreniform disorders also report hallucinations in childhood, 35 albeit less frequently, indicating that this is not a categorical distinction between clinical and nonclinical subjects. Furthermore, we did not find a relationship between age of onset and dopamine synthesis capacity.…”

“…2,3 The hallucinations they report are of psychotic intensity and are quite similar at the phenomenological level to those in patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. 4 However, subjects with these symptoms do not meet diagnostic criteria for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) psychotic disorder because the hallucinations are not associated with distress and subjects do not show functional impairment. 3 It is thought that dopaminergic dysfunction underlies the development of psychosis.…”

Varieties of Voice-Hearing: Psychics and the Psychosis Continuum

“…20 Numerous studies have highlighted important differences in the emotional valence and content of voice experiences, as well as the explanatory schema evoked. 21,22 Some individuals in these prior studies would, undoubtedly, describe themselves as clairaudient psychics. However, non-help-seeking voice hearers evoke a range of explanatory frameworks.…”