Do you hear multiple voices in your head at times? Research reveals that the voices are far more varied and complex than previously thought.
The study found that the majority of voice-hearers hear multiple voices with distinct character-like qualities, with many also experiencing physical effects on their bodies.
The team also confirmed that both people with and without psychiatric diagnoses hear voices.
"The findings have the potential to overturn mainstream psychiatric assumptions about the nature of hearing voices.
These show that there is an unrecognised complexity in the 'character' qualities of some voices,a explained lead researcher Dr Angela Woods from the centre for medical humanities at Durham University in Britain.
For the study, researchers collected answers through an on-line questionnaire focused on description of experiences from 153 respondents.
The majority of respondents had been diagnosed with a psychiatric condition but 26 had no history of mental illness.
The large majority of respondents described hearing multiple voices (81 percent) with characterful qualities (70 percent).
Sixty-six percent of people felt bodily sensations while hearing voices such as feeling hot or tingling sensations in their hands and feet.
Voices with effects on the body were more likely to be abusive or violent and, in some cases, be linked to experiences of trauma.
While fear, anxiety, depression and stress were often associated with voices, 31 percent of participants said they also felt positive emotions.
According to the researchers, this variation means different types of therapies could be needed for voice-hearers, such as tailored Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) geared towards distinct voice sub-types or patterns of voice hearing.
Current common approaches to help with voices include medication, CBT, voice dialogue techniques and other forms of therapy and self-help.
Auditory hallucinations are a common feature of many psychiatric disorders, such as psychosis, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but are also experienced by people without psychiatric conditions.
It is estimated that between five and 15 percent of adults will experience auditory hallucinations during their lifetimes.
The paper was published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry.
