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Cited by 710Hallucinations in medical conditionsSchizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health and Psychiatry

The auditory hallucination: a phenomenological survey

Nayani, Tony H., David, Anthony S.·1996·Psychological Medicine
DOI 10.1017/s003329170003381x
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Abstract

A comprehensive semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 100 psychotic patients who had experienced auditory hallucinations. The aim was to extend the phenomenology of the hallucination into areas of both form and content and also to guide future theoretical development. All subjects heard 'voices' talking to or about them. The location of the voice, its characteristics and the nature of address were described. Precipitants and alleviating factors plus the effect of the hallucinations on the sufferer were identified. Other hallucinatory experiences, thought insertion and insight were examined for their inter-relationships. A pattern emerged of increasing complexity of the auditory-verbal hallucination over time by a process of accretion, with the addition of more voices and extended dialogues, and more intimacy between subject and voice. Such evolution seemed to relate to the lessening of distress and improved coping. These findings should inform both neurological and cognitive accounts of the pathogenesis of auditory hallucinations in psychotic disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1017/s003329170003381x

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  • Most hallucinations take the form of another person's voice, often giving commands or commenting on actions, and usually being experienced as 'alien' to the self.

    “most hallucinations take the form of another person's voice, often giving commands or commenting on actions of the person, and usually being experienced as ‘alien’ to the self (Nayani and David, 1996).”

    From Auditory verbal hallucinations as atypical inner speech monitoring, and the potential of neurostimulation as a treatment option (2013) · cites this paper as Nayani and David, 1996

  • Over time AVHs are more likely to be experienced as internally located.

    “It has, however, been shown that over time AVHs are more likely to be experienced as internally located (Nayani and David, 1996)”

    From Auditory verbal hallucinations as atypical inner speech monitoring, and the potential of neurostimulation as a treatment option (2013) · cites this paper as Nayani and David, 1996

  • AVHs cannot be treated as one homogeneous group, and may differ both phenomenologically and in their cognitive and neural substrates.

    “there is a growing realization that AVHs cannot be treated as one homogeneous group, and may in fact differ both phenomenologically and in their cognitive and neural substrates”

    From Auditory verbal hallucinations as atypical inner speech monitoring, and the potential of neurostimulation as a treatment option (2013) · cites this paper as Nayani and David, 1996

  • When causal roles for emotion in AVH have previously been considered, the types of emotions explored have typically been limited to anxiety and depression, although other emotions such as sadness have also been pinpointed.

    “When causal roles for emotion in AVH have previously been considered, the types of emotions explored have typically been limited to anxiety and depression (Tien and Eaton, 1992; Smith et al., 2006), although other emotions have also been pinpointed, such as sadness (Nayani and David, 1996; Escher and Romme, 2010).”

    From Is Shame Hallucinogenic? (2017) · cites this paper as Nayani and David, 1996

  • Sadness commonly precedes day-to-day experiences of AVH.

    “Other emotions that have been found to commonly precede day-to-day experiences of AVH include sadness (Nayani and David, 1996)”

    From Is Shame Hallucinogenic? (2017) · cites this paper as Nayani and David, 1996

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Authors
Nayani, T. H., & David, A. S.
Affiliations
King's College Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
David, Anthony S.
ORCID
David, Anthony S.
Venue
Psychological Medicine
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
1996-01
Volume
26
Issue
1
Pages
177-189
ISSN
  • 0033-2917 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-8978
DOI
10.1017/s003329170003381x
OpenAlex
W2052683850
Cited by
710
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 43
FWCI
7.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 4938 d)
Locations
  • Psychological Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Hallucinations in medical conditions
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
Keywords
auditory hallucinations, voice, psychosis, phenomenology of hallucinations, thought insertion, insight, coping, distress
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Awareness, Delusions, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Hallucinations, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychotic Disorders, Reality Testing, Social Environment, Sound Localization, Speech Perception

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