Course of auditory vocal hallucinations in childhood: 11‐year follow‐up study
Agna A. Bartels‐Velthuis, Johanna T. W. Wigman, Jack A. Jenner, Richard Bruggeman, Jim van Os
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica March 24, 2016 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12571 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort (case-control follow-up) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 293 |
| Population | Adolescents aged 18-19 years from a baseline case-control sample of 694 children (347 with auditory vocal hallucinations) |
| Duration | 11-year follow-up (with a 5-year follow-up at T1) |
| Citations | 68 |
| Key findings | Childhood auditory vocal hallucinations were mostly transitory, with a 6-year persistence rate of 18.2% and an 11-year persistence rate of 6.2%. AVH at 11-year follow-up were associated with higher levels of other psychotic experiences, psychopathology, and traumatic events, but not with stress or cannabis use. Persistent AVH was associated with traumatic events and higher risk for post-traumatic stress disorder. |
Abstract
Objective: Childhood auditory vocal hallucinations (AVH) are mostly transient but may predict clinical outcomes. Little is known about their course over time and associations with risk factors, and how this may inform early intervention. Our objective was to assess the 11-year course of AVH, associated psychopathology and risk factors.
Method: A 5-year (T1) and 11-year (T2) follow-up of a baseline case-control sample (n = 694, of whom 347 with AVH). At T2, online assessment of AVH, other psychotic experiences, psychopathology, trauma and cannabis use was completed by 293 adolescents aged 18-19 years.
Results: The AVH 6-year (T1-T2) persistence rate was 18.2%, and the AVH 11-year (T0-T2) persistence rate was 6.2%. AVH at T2 were associated with higher levels of T2 other psychotic experiences, T2 psychopathology and T2 traumatic events, but not with T2 stress or T2 cannabis use. Persistence of AVH (i.e. AVH reported two or three times from T0) was associated with T2 traumatic events and higher risk for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Conclusion: Auditory vocal hallucinations in early childhood are mostly transitory. AVH in adolescence, especially when persistent, are associated with affective symptoms and environmental risk, particularly traumatic events.
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- Cognitive-Developmental Mechanisms in Hallucinations. Schizophrenia Bulletin October 6, 2025
- Course of auditory hallucinations in childhood: Results of an 18-year follow-up study Psychiatry research communications August 28, 2026
- Relationships between markers of emotional and social cognition and acoustic-verbal hallucinations in children and adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PLoS One September 23, 2025
- Relationship between social cognition and emotional markers and acoustic-verbal hallucination in youth with post-traumatic stress disorder: Protocol for a prospective, 2-year, longitudinal case-control study. PLoS One July 2, 2024
- Incidence and Persistence of Psychotic Experiences in the General Population: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Schizophrenia Bulletin July 1, 2023
and 1 more in the library
Cites 3
- Prevalence and correlates of auditory vocal hallucinations in middle childhood The British Journal of Psychiatry December 31, 2009
- From phenomenology to neurophysiological understanding of hallucinations in children and adolescents. Schizophrenia Bulletin July 2014
- Does normal developmental expression of psychosis combine with environmental risk to cause persistence of psychosis? A psychosis proneness–persistence model Psychological Medicine April 1, 2007