Characteristics of auditory hallucinations in Indian patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder

BACKGROUND: Auditory verbal hallucinations are not a unitary phenomenon and can be further differentiated into certain clinical characteristics, viz., frequency, intensity, control, tone, distractibility, distress, and clarity. These clinical characteristics manifest in varying degrees in different psychiatric disorders. AIM: To study the characteristics of auditory hallucinations in Indian patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By purposive sampling, 140 patients of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder each were included in the study. Subjects were assessed cross-sectionally using sociodemographic proforma and characteristics of auditory hallucination scale. RESULTS: Characteristics of auditory hallucinations of schizophrenia patients were significantly different from those of bipolar affective disorder patients in the domains of frequency, intensity, tone, self-control, clarity, distractibility, and distress. CONCLUSION: Characteristics of auditory hallucinations differ in all domains between schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder.