Computerized binary scale of auditory speech hallucinations (cbSASH)

Stephane, Massoud; Pellizzer, Giuseppe; Roberts, Susan; McClannahan, Kate

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2006.05.020

« Previous Next »Schizophrenia Research
Volume 88, Issue 1 , Pages 73-81, December 2006

Computerized binary scale of auditory speech hallucinations (cbSASH)

Massoud Stephane
- The Domenici Research Center for Mental Illness, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Brain Sciences Center, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Psychiatry Service, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Corresponding author. VA Medical Center, One Veterans Drive (116A), Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. Tel.: +1 612 467 4237; fax: +1 612 467 4442.
Giuseppe Pellizzer
- Brain Sciences Center, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Susan Roberts
- Psychiatry Service, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Kate McClannahan
- The Domenici Research Center for Mental Illness, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Psychiatry Service, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA

Received 24 March 2006; received in revised form 16 May 2006; accepted 22 May 2006.

Abstract

Background

Evidence indicates that the neuropathology of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) varies according to their phenomenological characteristics. Therefore, AVH should be subgrouped accordingly in hallucinations research. As evaluation of these characteristics depends entirely on the patient report, obtaining measurement of the reliability of these reports is crucial.

Method

A computerized binary scale of auditory speech hallucinations (cbSASH) was developed to evaluate the phenomenology of AVH. It includes two subscales (inconsistency and malingering) to assess the reliability of the patient report. The cbSASH was administered along with MMPI-2, a general psychopathology scale, which includes similar validity subscales. Thirty-four psychotic patients with history of AVH were enrolled in this study.

Results

The scores on the inconsistency and malingering subscales of the cbSASH were correlated with the scores on the corresponding validity subscales in the MMPI-2. The combination of the malingering and inconsistency subscales provided robust measures of the reliability and ability of the patients' descriptions of their hallucinations.

Conclusion

The cbSASH provides a reliable and comprehensive evaluation of the phenomenology of AVH. Consequently, it is possible to subgroup patients according to the characteristics of their hallucinations. This refinement of AVH phenotypes could reduce the noise and inconsistency noted in AVH and psychosis research.

Keywords: AVH, Schizophrenia, Phenotype, Endophenotype, Validity measures