Comparing the phenomenology of auditory hallucinations in Dissociative Identity Disorder and non-clinical voice hearers
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Auditory hallucinations are often considered a symptom of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. However, these symptoms are also reported in individuals with other psychiatric conditions such as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and those without any psychiatric conditions. Neverthless, research on the phenomenology of auditory hallucinations has primarily focused on psychosis samples, with relatively little attention to the phenomenology of hallucinations in samples without psychosis. This study aims to compare the phenomenology of auditory hallucinations (e.g., loudness) in non-psychotic samples including 25 individuals with DID and 25 participants who currently experience auditory hallucinations but do not meet criteria for a dissociative or psychotic diagnosis. An exploratory analysis of the relationship between dissociative and post-traumatic stress symptoms and auditory hallucinations within and across groups will also be conducted. Participants will be males and females aged 18-65 with no history of brain injury or neurological disorder. Participants will complete clinical interviews and self-report measures of dissociation (depersonalisation, derealisation, dissociative amnesia and identity confusion) and post-traumatic stress symptoms (intrusions, avoidance and hyperarousal), auditory hallucinations (loudness, distress, frequency and attribution) and common co-morbidities (e.g. depression, anxiety). The findings will strengthen understanding of the association between dissociation, post-traumatic stress, and auditory hallucinations.
Source: OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161661196