Auditory hallucinations usually known as "voices" is a characteristic of many psychiatric illnesses. Auditory hallucinations involve perceiving sound without an auditory stimulus. It's presumed to be pathology or a symptom that represents 'psychosis' (a break from reality) due to substance abuse or other medical/psychiatric illnesses that must be medicated. Other research has shown auditory hallucinations are correlated with a rise in activity of the strietal and thalamic subcortical nuclei, paralimbic and hypothalamus regions in the mind. Metabolism and dopamine neurotransmitters are what treated and is implicated by means of a variety of antipsychotic medications. The treatment and resolution of this symptom is the manner medicine and psychiatry monitors advancement in patients. - psychiatrist New York
There is on-going research that supports the prevalence of auditory hallucinations having a dearth of other standard psychotic symptoms (like delusions or paranoia). Discerning real auditory hallucinations from "sounds" or a normal internal conversation is important since the latter phenomena isn't indicative of mental illness.
Thisphenomenonological surveyby Angela Woods et al that was done on 153 subjects is novel in that it surveys a broad array of people that has many different diagnoses. However, it's important to note the survey was put on-line and advertised for people who 'heard voices'. Thus, the results don't reflect the incidence of auditory hallucinations in the general or sickness -special inhabitants. The study had other constraints 2.5 times as many women as men completed the survey, it was only offered in English, there was no verification of self-reports and the 'coding' of features was done by the researchers but not independently volunteered. Acutely ill people were "certainly" (by research workers's admission) underrepresented in this survey. The writers in their particular self-appraisal note: "Although people from black and minority ethnic sources are up to nine times more likely than people from other ethnic sources to present with symptoms of psychosis, 'they're underrepresented in this study'."
This study is fascinating because it raises questions of what "imaginary sound" is: passive or uncontrolled imaginary perceptions vs. perceptual hallucinations The results show that 81% heard multiple voices with different "character " qualities (that means they were of particular age, sex and had distinct identities) that were expressed internally within the head (as opposed to external as if the voices heard 'were in the room') and were 'conversational' (that's the voices or thoughts discussion with the individual or with each other). Slightly less than half of the studied group heard it as "voices" while the others "heard" it as ideas or miscellaneous ideas and voices. Two thirds (66%) reported bodilysensations (referred to as tactile hallucinations generally psychiatry) and these senses were correlated with abusive and/or violent voices. Of note, is that one-third reported favorable emotions, one third neutral emotions along with the rest emotions of tension, depression, fear and anxiety. Moreover, the survey reported that 'command hallucinations' (which have been presumed in general practice to be indicative of high risk of harm to self and others) was just prevalent in 5% of those participating.
*This study has no present useful clinical applicationfor people currently suffering from hallucinations (auditory or tactile). Readers who have family members afflicted by internal voices or thoughts or are suffering should see their doctor for guidance.
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Alan Manevitz, M.D. is a Shrink in New York, where he maintains a private practice. Dr. Manevitz is a clinical associate professor at Payne Whitney-Weill Cornell Medical Center, an attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian and Lennox Hill Hospitals, and educates at the Weill-Cornell Medical School.
Dr. Manevitz has been named amongst the Top Doctors in America by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., New York Time's Superb Doctors, New York Magazine's Best Shrinks in New York, and Best Doctors of America. - psychiatrist New York