Characterizing the experience of auditory verbal hallucinations and accompanying delusions in individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder: A systematic review

Abstract

Clear gaps exist in our current understanding of the first-person experience of AVH in BD and the potential relationship to co-occurring symptoms, including delusions. Further research into cognitive interpretations of AVH in BD might inform adapted psychological interventions for psychotic symptoms in this population.

Cortical thickness abnormalities in bipolar disorder patients with a lifetime history of auditory hallucinations

“…Smith et al. have emphasized the need to explore the interplay between psychotic symptoms and mood episodes to better understand auditory hallucinations in BD …”

“…Auditory hallucinations are auditory sensory perceptions, commonly voices or sounds, that occur in the absence of external stimuli. Reports of prevalence rates of auditory hallucinations in bipolar disorder (BD) have varied across studies, but two large studies reported the lifetime prevalence to be 25% in BD type I patients (BDI) and 34% when only BDI patients with psychotic features were included . Auditory hallucinations are reported to be more frequent in manic than in depressed episodes .…”

“…Reports of prevalence rates of auditory hallucinations in bipolar disorder (BD) have varied across studies, but two large studies reported the lifetime prevalence to be 25% in BD type I patients (BDI) and 34% when only BDI patients with psychotic features were included . Auditory hallucinations are reported to be more frequent in manic than in depressed episodes . Black and Nasrallah examined the prevalence of auditory hallucinations at time of admission and found that 12.8% of patients admitted because of a manic episode, and 7.1% of patients admitted because of a depressive episode experienced auditory hallucinations in the acute stage.…”

“…4 Auditory hallucinations are reported to be more frequent in manic than in depressed episodes. 2 Black and Nasrallah 5 examined the prevalence of auditory hallucinations at time of admission and found that 12.8% of patients admitted because of a manic episode, and 7.1% of patients admitted because of a depressive episode experienced auditory hallucinations in the acute stage. Despite the reported prevalence of auditory hallucinations in BD, this is an understudied symptom with regard to clinical correlates and neurobiological underpinnings.…”

“…Despite the reported prevalence of auditory hallucinations in BD, this is an understudied symptom with regard to clinical correlates and neurobiological underpinnings. 1,2 To our knowledge, there has been no previously published study of brain structural correlates of auditory hallucinations in BD. Two previous studies have reported divergent findings when using voxel-based morphometry to perform volumetric comparisons of grey matter in BD patients with and without a history of hallucinations in general.…”