The phenomenology of auditory verbal hallucinations in bipolar disorder

• Published in: Psychology and psychotherapy 2023-06, Vol.96 (2), p.399-409
• Main Authors: Smith, Lindsay M, Yolland, Caitlin, Rossell, Susan L., Toh, Wei Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affect; auditory hallucinations; bipolar disorder; Bipolar Disorder - complications; Bipolar Disorder - psychology; depression; Hallucinations - psychology; Hearing; hearing voices; Humans; mania; Schizophrenia - diagnosis
• ISSN: 1476-0835; 2044-8341
• DOI: 10.1111/papt.12446

Objectives At least one in four persons with bipolar disorder (BD) are estimated to have experienced auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) or heard voices at some point. Yet few studies have investigated AVH in detail in this population. This preliminary study examined the phenomenology of AVH in BD to identify commonalities and differences relative to other psychiatric disorders where AVH are commonly reported. Method Twenty‐one participants diagnosed with BD were recruited across two international sites in the UK and Australia. All participants underwent a structured clinical interview to verify psychiatric diagnosis and completed standardised measures of symptomatology, including mood states. Phenomenological information of AVH was gathered using select questions from the comprehensive Mental Health Research Institute Unusual Perceptual Schedule (MUPS). Results AVH experienced by this BD sample were broadly similar in form and content to characterisations reported in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) in prior literature, with some exceptions including frequency, duration and the changeability of tone and content. Conclusions The study highlights possibly subtle differences in the experience of AVH in BD, including the potential influence of mood congruence as a pertinent clinical feature. Further research into these differences might inform adaptations to existing AVH interventions to ensure they are relevant for BD.