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Clinical correlates of distorted auditory perception in first‐episode psychosis
Author(s) -
Morenz Rachel,
Woolverton Cindy,
Frost R. Brock,
Kiewel Nicole A.,
Breitborde Nicholas J.K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
early intervention in psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.087
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1751-7893
pISSN - 1751-7885
DOI - 10.1111/eip.12150
Subject(s) - psychosis , psychology , perception , auditory hallucination , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , clinical psychology , psychiatry , coping (psychology) , audiology , medicine , neuroscience
Aim Auditory hallucinations are hypothesized to be based in distorted sensory perceptions, with increasingly distorted perceptions of reality possibly prompting the first psychotic phase of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Our goal was to examine the association between distorted auditory perceptions and psychotic symptomatology, social functioning and quality of life among individuals with first‐episode psychosis. Methods Forty individuals with first‐episode psychosis completed assessments of distorted auditory perception, psychotic symptomatology, social functioning and quality of life. Results Both negative (greater symptomatology) and positive clinical correlates (better quality of life) were associated with greater distorted auditory perceptions. Conclusions Our findings suggest that distorted auditory perceptions are associated with both positive and negative clinical correlates among individuals with first‐episode psychosis. These results highlight the potential clinical importance of balancing the goal of symptomatic reduction with the need to maintain healthy coping strategies that may be biologically and psychologically entwined with the symptoms of psychosis, themselves.