Reference: 

Honig, Adriaan, Romme, Marius A., Ensink, Bernadine J., Escher, Sandra D., Pennings, Monique H., & Devries, Marten W. (1998). Auditory hallucinations: A comparison between patients and nonpatients. The Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 186(10), 646–651. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-199810000-00009 

Written by Robin N. Fatovic M.S.

Hearing voices is common in about 10% of our population and in people diagnosed with psychosis. How do they differ? 

Netherlands’ researchers asked nonpatients who reported hearing voices and patients diagnosed either with schizophrenia or a dissociative disorder to complete an interview and questionnaires to determine any differences. 

 Results? Nonpatients started hearing voices before 12 years old, whereas the clinical groups started after 12. Patients reported hearing voices daily and more continuously than nonpatients. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia reported hearing voices talk about them more often in third person than nonpatients. Compared to nonpatients who heard voices, patients with schizophrenia or dissociative disorders reported that the voices spoke about their thoughts and those of others more. While nonpatients reported the voices spoke more positively to them, the clinical groups reported more negative voices making them feel afraid, criticized, and less in control of their lives. More than 50% of all groups hearing voices experienced abuse as a child. The onset of hallucinations for those in the dissociative disorder group occurred after experiencing a traumatic event. 

 If you struggle with hearing voices or past trauma, seek psychological consultation for help!