The phenomenological diversity of hallucinations: Some theoretical and clinical implications

Abstract

Hallucinations are complex psychopathological phenomena. Nevertheless, this has not always been clear in the scientific literature, until recently. In the following paper, the phenomenology of hallucinations will be (briefly) described. Then, ways in which examining phenomenological characteristics of hallucinations may have theoretical and clinical implications, will be presented. Assessment tools that examine phenomenological aspects of hallucinations will also briefly be presented. In particular, it will be argued that previous theoretical accounts of hallucinations that exclusively propose an externalising bias have not integrated the full phenomenological diversity of hallucinations. In addition, it will be maintained that taking into account the phenomenological diversity of hallucinations has a number of clinical implications, such as providing the patient with important information, improving patient-clinician relations, helping individualise treatment, opening up new therapeutic avenues, and providing information concerning changes in the patient's mental and emotional condition.