Comparison of the Phenomenology of Hallucination and Delusion Characteristics in People Diagnosed With Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia.
Zalie Merrett, David Castle, Neil Thomas, Wei Lin Toh, Josephine Beatson, Jillian H. Broadbear, Sathya Rao, Susan L. Rossell
Journal of personality disorders August 1, 2022 DOI: 10.1521/pedi.2022.36.4.413 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 89 |
| Population | Adults with borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia spectrum disorders |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Borderline personality disorder Delusions Hallucinations Schizophrenia Voices |
| Key findings | Multisensory hallucinations and delusions are prevalent in BPD and are similar to those in schizophrenia, with higher paranoia and guilt delusions in BPD. |
Abstract
Hallucinations and delusions in borderline personality disorder (BPD) are understudied. The authors explore the phenomenology of multisensory hallucinations and delusions in individuals with BPD and compare them to those in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). Clinical psychopathology was also explored. Eighty-nine adults participated and were categorized into four groups: BPD with voices, BPD without voices, SSD with high BPD traits, and SSD with low BPD traits. Among individuals with BPD, 81% reported visual and tactile hallucinations, 75% reported olfactory hallucinations, and 94% experienced delusions. When comparing BPD with and without voices, there were no significant differences in nonpsychotic psychopathology. Slight differences were found when hallucinations in BPD were compared with hallucinations in SSD, but overall the experiences were similar across diagnoses. The BPD group also reported significantly higher rates of paranoia/suspiciousness and delusions of guilt than the SSD group. Multisensory hallucinations and delusions occur in BPD and should be explored when treating people with BPD.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The phenomenology of near-death experiences Subjects who reported near-death experiences | 1980 | Retrospective study | n = 78 |
| Visual Phenomenology of the LSD Flashback Persons with a history of LSD use | 1983 | Observational cohort | n = 123 |
| The neurophenomenology of neutral hypnosis. Individuals of high, medium, and low hypnotizability | 2013 | Observational cohort | n = 37 |
| The Phenomenology of Acute Organic Psychosis Patients with acute organic psychosis and acute schizophrenics | 1987 | Observational cohort | n = 148 |
| EEG oscillatory states as neuro-phenomenology of consciousness as revealed from patients in vegetative and minimally conscious states. Brain-damaged patients with disorders of consciousness and healthy-conscious subjects | 2012 | Observational cohort |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Hearing voices and other altered perceptual experiences across psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders: from phenomenology and mechanisms to future directions. Schizophrenia September 29, 2025
- ‘Linguistic Shrapnel’: Inner speech in borderline personality disorder and its relevance for self-familiarity. A philosophical review Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences November 11, 2025
- Severe Dissociative Experiences beyond Detachment in a Large Clinical Sample of Inpatients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnostic and Treatment Implications Psychopathology July 22, 2024
Cites 3
- Comparing the experience of voices in borderline personality disorder with the experience of voices in a psychotic disorder: A systematic review. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry July 2016
- Auditory hallucinations: a comparison of beliefs about voices in individuals with schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy 2013
- Auditory verbal hallucinations in patients with borderline personality disorder are similar to those in schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine September 2012