Cross-cultural Differences in Hallucinations: A Comparison Between Middle Eastern and European Community-Based...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Cross-cultural psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Culture influences the phenomenological characteristics of hallucinations in schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
• Limited research exists on cultural modulation of hallucination characteristics in nonclinical populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the lifetime prevalence, age of onset, and phenomenology of hallucinations between nonclinical samples from the Netherlands and Qatar.
• To investigate cultural variations in hallucination experiences within a nonclinical context.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Questionnaire for Psychotic Experiences to assess lifetime prevalence, age of onset, and phenomenology.
• Compared two large nonclinical samples (N=2999 each) from the Netherlands and Qatar.
• Employed measurement invariance testing to support cross-cultural comparisons.

Main Results:

• Auditory and visual hallucination prevalence was twice as high in the Dutch sample; tactile and olfactory hallucination prevalence was similar.
• Younger age of onset for auditory and tactile hallucinations was reported in the Dutch sample.
• Qatari participants reported greater impact on daily functioning and a higher prevalence of receiving commands from hallucinations, despite similar valence and interaction with hallucinations compared to Dutch participants.

Conclusions:

• Cultural factors significantly shape the phenomenology of hallucinations in nonclinical samples.
• Hallucinations in the Qatar sample demonstrated greater clinical relevance, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive screening and prevention strategies.
• Cross-cultural comparisons revealed significant differences in prevalence, age of onset, and clinical impact, underscoring the role of culture in hallucination experiences.