Auditory hallucinations in pre-pubertal children. A one-year follow-up, preliminary findings.
Florence L Askenazy, Karine Lestideau, Anne Meynadier, Emmanuelle Dor, Martine Myquel, Yves Lecrubier
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry September 2007 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-006-0577-9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 90 |
| Population | Children aged 5 to 12 years consecutively recruited from psychiatric outpatient clinics |
| Duration | 12-month follow-up with assessments at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months |
| Key findings | Sixteen of 90 children (about 18%) reported auditory hallucinations. In 53% of these, hallucinations resolved fully within 3 months, and all had anxiety disorders; in 30%, hallucinations persisted over 12 months, and all had conduct disorders at that point. No child received a schizophrenia diagnosis. The authors suggest hallucinations in this group are often unrelated to psychosis, though they may reflect anxiety, while persistence appeared linked to conduct disorders. |
Abstract
The aims of this study were to describe the phenomenology of auditory hallucinations in children, to establish links with DSM IV diagnoses and to explore development of the hallucinations over a 12-month period. Outpatients aged 5- to 12-year-old were consecutively recruited. They were interviewed using a questionnaire investigating auditory hallucinations. DSM IV diagnoses were determined. Follow-up assessments were performed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Ninety children were recruited. Sixteen reported auditory hallucinations. In 53% we observed children's full recovery from hallucinations within 3 months and all of these suffered from anxiety disorders. In 30% hallucinations persisted over 12 months and all showed conduct disorders at this point in time. None was diagnosed as having schizophrenia. Our study provides further evidence of the high prevalence of auditory hallucinations in pre-pubertal children presenting to psychiatric clinics. Two different patterns of development were seen. In one group the hallucinations seem unrelated to psychosis although they may be a manifestation of anxiety. In the second, much smaller, persistence of hallucinations appeared linked to conduct disorders.