A new examination of command hallucinations

Command hallucinations are hallucinations in which a person is being told to commit an act by a hallucinatory experience.

In most cases, this is an auditory or voice-hearing experience and is considered by most people to be the most dangerous symptom of schizophrenia and other psychosis disorders.

Both the media and many professionals believe that command hallucinations can lead to violence and thus are highly stigmatized for voice-hearing communities. Due to this fear and stigma, command hallucinations have been primarily researched from a clinical viewpoint.

Previous research has found command hallucinations to be highly distressing, however more recent research suggests that different cultural approaches to voice-hearing experiences can significantly impact upon distress.

Additionally, hallucinations that occur in multiple sensory domains are common amongst those with psychotic disorders however little is known about multisensory command hallucinations.

The proposed project will systematically investigate command hallucinations through a social, cultural, and clinical approach.

This will be divided into three research areas: what is the / ESRC NINE DTP Postgraduate Studentship Nomination Form / Page 3 of 14 general population's experience with and towards command hallucinations? What can archival data on command hallucinations tell us about the phenomenology? How do clinical voice-hearers experience command hallucinations, across sensory domains and cultures?

Through an interdisciplinary approach, this research has potential to not only inform mental health professionals and academics, but also improve society's understanding and treatment towards those who experience hallucinations.