CompletedNot Applicable

Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia

France40 participantsStarted 2009-10

Plain-language summary

Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) are speech perceptions in the absence of a relevant external stimulation. Some accounts of AVHs claim that a deficit in inner speech monitoring would cause the verbal thoughts of the patient to be perceived as external voices resulting in AVHs. In order to examine whether AVHs correspond to self-generated inner speech, the present study aims at collecting speech muscle activity during covert AVHs (without articulation), overt speech and rest. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is used on schizophrenia patients and control subjects to detect any speech muscle activity during AVH.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 60 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Healthy controls: * must be more than 18 years and less than 60 years old * pre-inclusion medical examination * must have signed consent form * must be able to read stimuli on a screen Schizophrenia patients: * must be more than 18 years and less than 60 years old * pre-inclusion medical examination * must have signed consent form * must be able to read stimuli on a screen * diagnosed with a schizophrenia disorder according to DSM-IV TR (diagnostic and statistical of mental disorders) (PANSS item P3 greater than 4) * prior evaluation of the secondary effects of any medication via Barnes and AIMS scales * affiliated with the French social security * if under guardianship, must have additional consent form signed by guardian Exclusion Criteria: Healthy controls: * if aged less than 18 years or more than 60 years * diagnosed with any psychiatric disorder * with any language disorder (aphasia, SLI, dysarthria, stuttering, etc.) * with auditory impairment * pregnant, parturient, breast-feeding Schizophrenia patients: * if aged less than 18 years or more than 60 years * significant secondary effects of antipsychotic medication, measured with the Barnes and AIMS scales * with a neurodegenerative disease * with any language disorder (aphasia, SLI, dysarthria, stuttering, etc.) * with auditory impairment * pregnant, parturient, breast-feeding

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Labial EMG activity during auditory verbal hallucination

Timeframe: up to 3 years

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01886417

SponsorUniversity Hospital, Grenoble

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2015-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Schizophrenia trials