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Persistent auditory hallucinations correlate with the size of the third ventricle in schizophrenic patients
Author(s) -
Cullberg J.,
Nybäck H.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1992.tb03299.x
Subject(s) - auditory hallucination , psychology , psychopathology , abnormality , audiology , third ventricle , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychosis , correlation , brief psychiatric rating scale , psychiatry , medicine , geometry , mathematics
In a study of psychotherapy in schizophrenic patients, the existence of certain clinical and anamnestic variables, such as persistent auditory hallucinations, was found to correlate with a negative outcome. To test whether these clinical variables could be a sign of organic brain abnormality, the records of 33 schizophrenic patients who had been examined by computerized tomography (CT) were investigated regarding the occurrence of these symptoms. A significant correlation was found between width of the third ventricle and the occurrence of such auditory hallucinations, which also persisted between acute phases. No correlation was found between the CT measures and other clinical characteristics, including hallucinations rated at admission by the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). The results are interpreted to suggest a disturbance of diencephalic brain regions in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients that are further characterized by persistent auditory hallucinations and a lack of response to psychodynamic psychotherapy.