It is recommended that persons suffering from hallucinations get a medical evaluation.
Also, PLEASE: CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIC
First-Rank Symptoms of Schizophrenia (FRS) could be a group of symptoms. It could be believed these symptoms were especially characteristic of Schizophrenia and could help distinguish it from other psychiatric conditions.
Core Idea
FRS can be disturbances in the sense of self, where a person experiences their thoughts, actions, or perceptions as being controlled or influenced by an external force.
The Main First-Rank Symptoms
1. Auditory Hallucinations (Voices)
- Hearing voices that:
- Comment on one’s actions (“He is walking now…”)
- Argue or discuss the person (voices talking about them in third person)
2. Thought Insertion
- Belief that thoughts might be placed into one’s mind by an external agent
3. Thought Withdrawal
- Belief that thoughts could be removed or stolen from the mind
4. Thought Broadcasting
- Belief that one’s thoughts are accessible to others, as if “broadcasted”
5. Delusions of Control (Passivity Experiences)
- Feeling that one’s:
- Actions
- Emotions
- Impulses
are being controlled by an outside force
6. Delusional Perception
- A normal perception (seeing a traffic light turn red) is given a bizarre, personal meaning
- Example: “The red light means I am chosen for a mission”
Clinical Notes
- FRS might not be exclusive to schizophrenia (they could appear in other disorders), but they could be highly suggestive.
- Modern systems might not rely solely on FRS for diagnosis.
- Diagnosis might require a broader pattern of symptoms, including:
- Negative symptoms (flat affect)
- Disorganized thinking
- Functional impairment
Conceptual Importance
FRS highlight a breakdown in some philosophers might call the “sense of agency”, the feeling that:
- “My thoughts are mine”
- “I am the author of my actions”
In schizophrenia, this boundary could become disrupted.
(Parapsychology)
Some FRS especially thought insertion or voices might superficially resemble:
- Telepathic experiences
- External intelligence communication
However, in psychology, these could be understood as internally generated experiences misattributed to external sources, rather than veridical external communication.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 