The intrasubjectivity of self, voices and delusions: A phenomenological analysis.
Cherise Rosen, Nev Jones, Kayla A Chase, Hannah Gin, Linda S Grossman, Rajiv Sharma
Psychosis 2016 DOI: 10.1080/17522439.2016.1162839 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 92 |
| Population | Participants experiencing psychosis, including schizophrenia and bipolar with psychosis groups |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Auditory verbal hallucinations Delusions Psychosis |
| Key findings | Co-occurring auditory verbal hallucinations and delusions were more prevalent in schizophrenia than in bipolar with psychosis. AVHs correlated positively with delusions of reference, persecution, control, thought insertion, thought withdrawal, and thought broadcasting, but not with grandiose, somatic, religious, guilty, or jealousy-themed delusions. Two clusters emerged: Voices and Thought Delusions, and Voices and Thematic Delusions. |
Abstract
To advance the area of phenomenology of voices and their interrelatedness to forms of delusions this study investigated the prevalence and interrelatedness of co-occurring auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) and delusions. Additionally we explored the characterization of distinct sub-categories/clusters of AVHs and delusions. Ninety-two participants experiencing psychosis were administered standardized clinical measures. We found a significant diagnostic difference with increased prevalence of co-occurring AVHs and delusions within the schizophrenia group compared to the bipolar with psychosis group. Regardless of diagnosis, there was a significant positive correlation between AVHs and delusions of reference, persecution, control, thought insertion, thought withdrawal and thought broadcasting. However, no significant relationship was found between AVHs and grandiose, somatic, religious, guilty or jealousy-themed delusions. Cluster analysis yielded two distinct cluster groups. Cluster One: Voices and Thought Delusions, and Cluster Two: Voices and Thematic Delusions. Cluster One participants showed elevated disorganized, cognitive and depressive symptoms, but not negative symptoms or excitement. This study underscores the need for expanded clinical and phenomenological research into the intersection of AVHs and delusions, including work that seeks to deconstruct conventional divisions between ostensible symptoms of perception' (hallucinations) and belief' (delusions).
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 9
- Hallucinations Beyond Voices: A Conceptual Review of the Phenomenology of Altered Perception in Psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin February 1, 2019
- Sensed Presence, Attenuated Psychosis, and Transliminality: At the Threshold of Consciousness. Psychopathology 2023
- Hearing voices and other altered perceptual experiences across psychotic, mood, and anxiety disorders: from phenomenology and mechanisms to future directions. Schizophrenia September 29, 2025
- What are delusions? Examining the typology problem. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science 2024
- Thinking in schizophrenia and the social phenomenology of thought insertion Philosophical Psychology March 26, 2024
and 4 more in the library
Cites 10
- Self-disturbance and schizophrenia: structure, specificity, pathogenesis (Current issues, New directions). Schizophrenia Research 2014
- Experiences of hearing voices: analysis of a novel phenomenological survey. The Lancet Psychiatry March 31, 2015
- Auditory verbal hallucinations in persons with and without a need for care. Schizophrenia Bulletin July 2014
- A new phenomenological survey of auditory hallucinations: evidence for subtypes and implications for theory and practice. Schizophrenia Bulletin January 2014
- What are the neurocognitive correlates of basic self-disturbance in schizophrenia?: Integrating phenomenology and neurocognition. Part 1 (Source monitoring deficits). Schizophrenia Research January 2014
and 5 more in the library