Table 2.
Characteristics of AHs last week measured with the PSYRATS-AH (N = 33) (PSYRATS-AH, Psychotic Symptoms Rating Scale - Auditory Hallucinations).
| N (%) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Modalities | ||
| No other modalities | 10 (30.3%) | |
| Visual hallucinations | 5 (15.2%) | |
| Olfactory hallucinations | 1 (3%) | |
| Tactile hallucinations | 2 (6.1%) | |
| Multiple modalities | 15 (45.5%) | |
| Frequency | ||
| No voices present or less than once per week | 1 (3%) | |
| At least once a week | 3 (9.1%) | |
| At least once a day | 4 (12.1%) | |
| At least once per hour | 8 (24.2%) | |
| Continuously or almost continuously | 17 (51.5%) | |
| Duration | ||
| No voices | 1 (3%) | |
| A few seconds | 6 (18.2%) | |
| Several minutes | 7 (21.2%) | |
| At least 1 h | 4 (12.1%) | |
| Several hours | 15 (45.5%) | |
| Location | ||
| No voices | 1 (3%) | |
| Only voicwes in the head | 7 (21.2%) | |
| Voices close to the ears or head (and possibly inside) | 10 (30.3%) | |
| Voices in or close to the ears and further away | 4 (12.1%) | |
| Voices from the surrounding, further away from the head | 11 (33.3%) | |
| Loudness (last time heard) | ||
| No voices | 1 (3%) | |
| Quieter than own voice, whispering | 13 (39.4%) | |
| As loud as own voice | 12 (36.4%) | |
| Louder than own voice | 3 (9.1%) | |
| Very loud, shouting | 4 (12.1%) | |
| Attribution (at moment of interview) | ||
| No voices | – | |
| Convinced voices are internally generated and connected with the patient himself | 7 (21.2%) | |
| Less than50% convinced voices are caused by external cause | 5 (15.2%) | |
| 50, but less than 100% convinced voices have external cause | 11 (33.3%) | |
| 100% sure voices are externally caused | 10 (30.3%) | |
| Negative content | ||
| No negative content | 3 (9.1%) | |
| Now and then negative content | 5 (15.2%) | |
| Less than 50% unpleasant | 4 (12.1%) | |
| More than 50% unpleasant | 11 (33.3%) | |
| All content is unpleasant | 10 (30.3%) | |
| Severity of negative content | ||
| Not unpleasant or negative | – | |
| Certain amount of negative content but not aimed at the person or his family | – | |
| Negative content aimed at the behavior of the person | 1 (3%) | |
| Negative content aimed at the self-concept of the person | 20 (60.6%) | |
| Threats aimed at the person or its family | 12 (36.4%) | |
| Burden | ||
| Voices are never unpleasant or annoying | 2 (6.1%) | |
| Sometimes annoying, but mostly not | 3 (9.1%) | |
| Equally annoying as not annoying | 3 (9.1%) | |
| Majority of the voices unpleasant or annoying | 9 (27.3%) | |
| Voices are always unpleasant or annoying | 16 (48.5%) | |
| Intensity of the burden | ||
| Voices cause no discomfort | 2 (6.1%) | |
| Voices cause limited discomfort | 4 (12.1%) | |
| Voices cause moderate discomfort | 10 (30.3%) | |
| Voices cause severe discomfort | 10 (30.3%) | |
| Voices cause extreme discomfort | 7 (21.2%) | |
| Disturbance in everyday life | ||
| No disturbance of everyday life | – | |
| Limited disturbance (e.g., concentration) | 3 (9.1%) | |
| Moderate disturbance (e.g., hindering daily activities) | 15 (45.5%) | |
| Severe disturbance (e.g., often requiring hospitalization) | 15 (45.5%) | |
| Total disturbance of life (e.g., constant hospitalization required) | – | |
| Experienced control over voices | ||
| Control | 1 (3%) | |
| Mostly some control | 6 (18.2%) | |
| Half of the time some control | 1 (3%) | |
| Mostly no control | 11 (33.3%) | |
| No control | 14 (42.4%) | |