181. The Phenomenological Construct of Self, Voices, and Other Extreme States

Abstract

Background: Traditionally, hallucinations have been understood as abnormalities of perception and delusions as abnormalities of cognition. However, descriptive psychopathologists have long noted the presence of "silent" or thought-like AVHs as well as AVHs with ambiguous perceptual and cognitive qualities. Some researchers have proposed that delusions of reference, control, and communication may at times overlap with or even be indistinguishable from AVHs. Methods: This study reports the analyses into the intercept of AVHs and forms of delusions. Ninety-two participants experiencing psychosis participated in the study. Inclusion criteria for the study included participants between the ages of 21-60 who met criteria for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder/psychosis and were currently experiencing AVHs. 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 subcategories/clusters of AVHs and delusions. Results: Group comparisons of prevalence of co-occurring AVHs and delusions show a signifcant increased prevalence within the schizophrenia group (chi2(1, N = 92) = 11.47, P