Predicting Psychotic-Like Experiences during Sensory Deprivation
BioMed Research International February 24, 2015 DOI: 10.1155/2015/439379 (opens in new tab) via Semantic Scholar
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractPeople who are prone to hallucinations experience more psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) during brief sensory deprivation than those who are not, and both groups show an increase in PLEs during deprivation. Hallucination proneness is the strongest predictor of this increase, with state anxiety also contributing. Suggestibility and fantasy proneness do not predict the increase, indicating that the rise in PLEs reflects genuine perceptual changes rather than a tendency to falsely report experiences. The findings support sensory deprivation as a safe, nonpharmacological model for studying psychosis.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 46 |
| Population | High and low hallucination-prone participants |
| Intervention | sensory deprivation |
| Duration | Brief sensory deprivation |
| Keywords | Psychology Medicine |
| Key finding | Hallucination proneness is the best predictor of increased psychotic-like experiences during sensory deprivation, with state anxiety also a significant predictor, while suggestibility and fantasy proneness are not. |
Abstract
Aims. This study aimed to establish the contribution of hallucination proneness, anxiety, suggestibility, and fantasy proneness to psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) reported during brief sensory deprivation. Method. Twenty-four high and 22 low hallucination-prone participants reported on PLEs occurring during brief sensory deprivation and at baseline. State/trait anxiety, suggestibility, and fantasy proneness were also measured. Results. Both groups experienced a significant increase in PLEs in sensory deprivation. The high hallucination prone group reported more PLEs both at baseline and in sensory deprivation. They also scored significantly higher on measures of state/trait anxiety, suggestibility, and fantasy proneness, though these did not explain the effects of group or condition. Regression analysis found hallucination proneness to be the best predictor of the increase in PLEs, with state anxiety also being a significant predictor. Fantasy proneness and suggestibility were not significant predictors. Conclusion. This study suggests the increase in PLEs reported during sensory deprivation reflects a genuine aberration in perceptual experience, as opposed to increased tendency to make false reports due to suggestibility of fantasy proneness. The study provides further support for the use of sensory deprivation as a safe and effective nonpharmacological model of psychosis.