Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 2, 9713 AW, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 4;14(1):23108. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-69798-2.
Hallucinations can have rather heterogeneous aetiology and presentation. This inspired the concept of different subtypes based on symptom profiles, especially in the field of auditory hallucinations. As many people experience hallucinations in more than one sensory modality, it seems important to investigate potential hallucination subtypes across different sensory modalities. We assessed the content of hallucinations as part of a large survey among the general Dutch population (n = 10,448) using the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences. Based on their descriptions, thematic categories were created in a data-driven cluster analysis. 2594 participants who experienced hallucinations over the past week that contained at least 2 different thematic categories were selected. Clustering of their hallucination content was performed with the HDBSCAN method. We identified 4 clusters, i.e., subtypes, which can be typified as 1. hallucinations of foul odors, 2. complex visual scenes, 3. a vast variety of rather common hallucinations possibly related to heightened alertness, and 4. possibly bereavement hallucinations. The bereavement subtype showed an increase in emotional loneliness and the presence of delusions. Our findings suggest that the content of hallucinations can be informative, especially when investigated across sensory modalities. Such subtypes may help to better understand their underlying mechanisms.
幻觉的病因和表现可能多种多样。这启发了基于症状特征的不同亚型的概念，特别是在听觉幻觉领域。由于许多人在一种以上的感觉模式中体验到幻觉，因此似乎有必要跨不同感觉模式研究潜在的幻觉亚型。我们使用精神体验问卷（Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences），在荷兰普通人群（n=10448）的大型调查中评估了幻觉的内容。根据他们的描述，在数据驱动的聚类分析中创建了主题类别。选择了 2594 名在过去一周内经历过至少包含 2 种不同主题类别的幻觉的参与者。使用 HDBSCAN 方法对他们的幻觉内容进行聚类。我们确定了 4 个聚类，即亚型，可以将其特征化为 1. 恶臭幻觉，2. 复杂的视觉场景，3. 各种各样的常见幻觉，可能与警觉性提高有关，4. 可能与丧亲有关的幻觉。丧亲亚型表现出情绪孤独感的增加和妄想的出现。我们的发现表明，幻觉的内容可能具有信息性，特别是在跨感觉模式进行研究时。这些亚型可能有助于更好地理解其潜在机制。
