Are there clinical differences between inner, outer or dual spatial locations of auditory verbal hallucinations?

The aim of the present exploratory study was to examine the clinical differences of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations (AVHs) according to their spatial localization. Sixty-six outpatients were divided into three separate groups: inner, external and dual AVHs. The three groups were compared on sociodemographic variables (age, gender, education, marital status, living situation, employment, social disability), on clinical psychiatric characteristics (diagnosis, medication, comorbidities, illness onset, illness duration and hospitalizations) and on the measure yielded by the clinical assessments (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale-Expanded, version 4.0; Maastricht Voices Interview for Adults; Belief About Voices Questionnaire Revised, the Clinical Global Impression, the Global Assessment Functioning Self-Esteem Rating Short Form, the World Health Organisation Quality of Life-Bref). Gender, living situation, social quality of life and some items regarding beliefs about AVHs raised significant difference, however most of the other comparisons failed to reach significance. Taken together, our findings suggest that all AVHs subtypes have equal clinical significance in patients presenting a chronic mental illness. However, the power of the study limits the generalization of the findings. Clinical implications of the findings are proposed.