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The Effects of Varying Auditory Input on Schizophrenic Hallucinations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

A. Margo ,
D. R. Hemsley  and
P. D. Slade
A. Margo
Affiliation:
Goodmayes Hospital, Essex, and Honorary Research Worker, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry
D. R. Hemsley
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London University
P. D. Slade
Affiliation:
Sub-Department of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Liverpool
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Summary

The present report is of the effect of variations of auditory input on hallucinatory experiences in seven schizophrenic patients. Nine experimental conditions, each of two minutes' duration, were compared with a control condition. At the end of each period subjects were required to rate the duration, loudness, and clarity of hallucinations during that time. Experimental conditions varied according to the amount of structure present in the material and in its attention-commanding properties. One condition required the active monitoring of material presented and resulted in the greatest decrease in hallucinatory experiences. For the passive conditions, findings were broadly consistent with predictions, indicating that it is not stimulation per se, but rather the extent to which structure is present and attended to, that is important in determining the occurrence of hallucinatory phenomena.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 139 , Issue 2 , August 1981 , pp. 122 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1981 

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