title: A preliminary investigation into the existence of a hypervigilance subtype of auditory hallucination in people with psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The phenomenological heterogeneity of auditory hallucinations (AHs) means individual models struggle to account for all aspects of the experience. One alternative is that distinct subtypes of AHs exist, with each requiring their own unique explanatory model and tailored cognitive behavioural intervention strategies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This exploratory study tested for the presence of one specific potential AH-subtype, hypervigilance hallucinations (HV-AHs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four specific aspects of the phenomenology of AHs (chosen on the basis of the predicted phenomenology of HV-AHs) were assessed using a semi-structured interview in 32 individual AHs taken from reports from 15 patients with psychosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cluster analysis (at the level of the individual AH-experience) offered support for the existence of a distinct HV-AH subtype, characterized by hearing threatening, externally-located voices when attention was externally-focused. Other clusters identified all shared the contrasting properties of occurring in quiet contexts when patients' attention was internally focused.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results offered tentative support for the existence of an HV-AH subcategorization and justifies future research in larger samples. Potential implications for models of AHs are also considered.
authors: Tees,Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors: Lucy
authors: L
authors: Garwood
authors: Northumberland,Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust,UK.
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Dodgson
authors: Newcastle University,UK.
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Bruce
authors: Macquarie University,Sydney,Australia.
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: McCarthy-Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Auditory verbal hallucination; categorization; hearing voices.; psychosis