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The phenomenology of inner speech: Comparison of schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations and healthy controls

Langdon, R.; Jones, S.R.; Connaughton, E.; Fernyhough, C.

The phenomenology of inner speech: Comparison of schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations and healthy controls Thumbnail


Authors

R. Langdon

S.R. Jones

E. Connaughton



Abstract

Background Despite the popularity of inner-speech theories of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs), little is known about the phenomenological qualities of inner speech in patients with schizophrenia who experience AVHs (Sz-AVHs), or how this compares to inner speech in the non-voice-hearing general population. Method We asked Sz-AVHs (n=29) and a non-voice-hearing general population sample (n=42) a series of questions about their experiences of hearing voices, if present, and their inner speech. Results The inner speech reported by patients and controls was found to be almost identical in all respects. Furthermore, phenomenological qualities of AVHs (e.g. second- or third-person voices) did not relate to corresponding qualities in inner speech. Conclusions No discernable differences were found between the inner speech reported by Sz-AVHs and healthy controls. Implications for inner-speech theories of AVHs are discussed.

Citation

Langdon, R., Jones, S., Connaughton, E., & Fernyhough, C. (2009). The phenomenology of inner speech: Comparison of schizophrenia patients with auditory verbal hallucinations and healthy controls. Psychological Medicine, 39(4), 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291708003978

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Apr 1, 2009
Deposit Date Sep 12, 2012
Publicly Available Date Sep 12, 2012
Journal Psychological Medicine
Print ISSN 0033-2917
Electronic ISSN 1469-8978
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 39
Issue 4
Pages 655-663
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291708003978
Keywords Auditory verbal hallucinations, Inner speech, Phenomenology, Schizophrenia, Vygotsky.

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