Tactile, visceral, and proprioceptive hallucinations in psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Validation of a scale for tactile, visceral, and proprioceptive hallucinations in people with non-organic psychotic disorders.
IRAS ID
302174
Contact name
Alvaro Barrera
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Psychosis encompasses several symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, disorganised behaviour, speech, and/or thoughts, reduced emotional expression, reduced speech, loss of motivation, self-neglect, and social withdrawal. Psychotic disorders include conditions such as schizophrenia, which affects around 0.7% of the population, schizoaffective disorder (which occurs about one-third as frequently as schizophrenia), drug-induced psychosis, persistent delusional disorder, as well as episodes of bipolar disorder and depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms. Psychotic conditions cause significant difficulties to those affected and their families and are a leading cause of disability and economic burden. Understanding the factors involved in their causation and evolution over the life span is crucial to prevent and treat them as well as develop rehabilitation and support. Research on psychosis has assumed that the clinical presentation of psychosis (its phenotype) has been fully characterized. However, some of its symptoms remain poorly described. Hallucinations (i.e. when people perceive something that is not actually present) involving the skin and the body (perception of the internal organs, head, and limbs as well their position), henceforth tactile, somatic and proprioceptive hallucinations (TSPH), are poorly understood. TSPH are reported by 9–27% of patients, including people with bipolar disorder; however, these figures may be an underestimate because often patients are not asked about them. TSPH could be an important clinical marker (e.g. response to treatment, childhood abuse, age of onset, level of functioning, risk, etc). This study will evaluate the psychometric characteristics of a clinical scale for TSPH, whose items have been constructed based on a review of the literature as well as input from service users and senior clinicians. This scale will be administered to people with a diagnosis of psychosis, who have capacity to consent to participate. We will also gather clinical information to explore some potential TSPH's clinical associations.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0322
Date of REC Opinion
25 Mar 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion