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Abstract

Objectives:

The possible link between cognitive areas of perception and integration of consciousness was examined using assessments of hallucinations and derealisation/depersonalization.

Methods:

Sixty-five subjects in three main diagnostic groups – posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder (BPD) and schizophrenia – identified by their treating psychiatrist as hearing voices were surveyed regarding characteristics of hallucinations, derealisation/depersonalization, delusions and childhood/adult trauma.

Results:

A cluster analysis produced two clusters predominantly determined by variables of hallucinations measures, childhood sexual abuse and derealisation/depersonalization scores.

Conclusions:

History of childhood trauma and variability in derealisation/depersonalization scores were better predictors of external, negative, uncontrollable voices than diagnosis of BPD or PTSD. The potential links between dissociative states and pseudo-hallucinations are discussed.

Keywords

pseudo-hallucinations dissociation trauma

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