"Voices" in People's Heads Are Complex ---comments by Alan Manevitz, MD
Auditory hallucinations generally referred to as "voices" has been a characteristic of several psychiatric illnesses. Auditory hallucinations involve perceiving sound without an auditory stimulation. It's presumed to be pathology or a symptom that represents 'psychosis' (a break from truth) brought on by substance abuse or other medical/psychiatric illnesses that must be medicated. Other studies have shown auditory hallucinations are correlated with an increase in activity of the strietal and thalamic subcortical nuclei, paralimbic and hypothalamus areas in the mind. Dopamine neurotransmitters and metabolism are what is currently implicated and treated by means of a variety of antipsychotic drugs. The treatment and resolution of this symptom is the way medicine and psychiatry traditionally tracks development in patients. Find Psychiatrists
There is on going research that supports the prevalence of auditory hallucinations with a dearth of other conventional psychotic symptoms (such as delusions or paranoia). Discerning genuine auditory hallucinations from "sounds" or an ordinary internal conversation is important since the latter occurrences is just not indicative of mental illness.
Thisphenomenonological surveyby Angela Woods et al that was done on 153 subjects is novel because it surveys a broad selection of individuals with many different analyses. However, it's crucial to see the survey was placed on-line and advertised for folks who 'heard voices'. Therefore, the results usually do not represent the prevalence of auditory hallucinations in the general or illness -specific inhabitants. The study had other limitations 2.5 times as many women as men completed the survey, it was only offered in English, there was no verification of self-reports and the 'coding' of features was done by the research workers but not alone volunteered. Acutely ill folks were "certainly" (by researchers's entry) underrepresented in this survey. The authors within their particular self-evaluation note: "Although people from black and minority ethnic origins are up to nine times more likely than people from other ethnic sources to present with symptoms of psychosis, 'they're underrepresented in this study'."
This study is interesting because it raises questions of what "imaginary sound" is: passive or uncontrolled imaginary understandings vs. perceptual hallucinations The results demonstrate that 81% heard multiple voices with different "character " qualities (that means they were of specific age, sex and had distinct identities) that were expressed internally within the head (as opposed to outside as if the voices heard 'were in the room') and were 'conversational' (that is the voices or thoughts chat with the person or with each other). Somewhat less than half the studied group heard it as "voices" while the others "heard" it as thoughts or mixed ideas and voices. Two-thirds (66%) reported bodilysensations (referred to as tactile hallucinations generally psychiatry) and these sensations were correlated with abusive and/or violent voices. Is that one third reported favorable emotions, one third neutral emotions as well as the remainder emotions of worry, depression, fear and anxiety. Also, the survey reported that 'command hallucinations' (which happen to be presumed in general practice to be indicative of high risk of harm to self and others) was only common in 5% of those participating. Anxiety psychiatrist nyc
*This study has no current useful clinical applicationfor people now suffering from hallucinations (auditory or tactile). Readers who are currently suffering or have family members struggling with internal voices or ideas should see their physician for guidance.
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Alan Manevitz, M.D. is a Psychiatrist in New York, where he maintains a private practice. Dr. Manevitz is a clinical associate professor at Payne Whitney-Weill Cornell Medical Center, an attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian and Lennox Hill Hospitals, and teaches at the Weill-Cornell Medical School.
Dr. Manevitz has been named amongst the Top Doctors in America by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., New York Time's Super Doctors, New York Magazine's Greatest Shrinks in New York, and Best Doctors of America.
Dr. Manevitz is recognized for his clinical abilities and excellence in Married, Family and Sex Therapy, complicated dilemmas involving drugs (Complex Psychopharmacology), and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). He's also nationally and internationally recognized for his clinical skills in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He's lectured at national assemblies and the grand rounds on the clinical treatment of Fibromyalgia and Pain.
Dr. Manevitz has acquired a reputation for consultation of difficult to diagnose patients and review of treatment resistant patients where he utilizes his knowledge of classic treatments and his experience as an early adapter to new drugs and medical devices to quarterback advanced biopsychosocial incorporated clinical strategies of treatment.
