The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review

Feras A Al-Awad

doi:10.29333/ejgm/13522

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Feras A Al-Awad ¹ ^*

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¹ Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, SAUDI ARABIA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Introduction: Musical hallucinations (MHs) is a heterogeneous phenomenon. Multiple case reports and series have improved our understanding of this complex phenomenon. This systematic review aims to assess the available evidence regarding MHs.
Methods: PubMed and ProQuest databases were searched for articles published between 2005 and 2022. The keywords used for the search were “music,” “musical,” “hallucinations,” and “hallucinosis.”
Results: The search identified 421 articles; however, only 67 were selected. A total of 77 patients were selected from case reports and series. We identified 50 articles with single cases, four articles with two cases, four articles with three cases, and one article with six cases. Eight additional articles that provided information regarding the prevalence of MHs were included in the review.
Conclusions: MHs are common among older individuals, women, and hearing-impaired individuals. The etiologies include psychiatric, neurological, hearing impairments, and substances. Content of MHs is typically familiar songs/music. No randomized controlled studies are available for determining the treatment for MHs.

Keywords

hallucinations
music
review
auditory
musical hallucinations

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Article Type: Review Article

ELECTRON J GEN MED, Volume 20, Issue 6, December 2023, Article No: em533

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522

Publication date: 01 Nov 2023

Online publication date: 01 Aug 2023

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Al-Awad FA. The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review. ELECTRON J GEN MED. 2023;20(6):em533. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522

APA

Al-Awad, F. A. (2023). The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review. Electronic Journal of General Medicine, 20(6), em533. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522

AMA

Al-Awad FA. The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review. ELECTRON J GEN MED. 2023;20(6), em533. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522

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Al-Awad, Feras A. "The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review". Electronic Journal of General Medicine 2023 20 no. 6 (2023): em533. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522

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Al-Awad, F. A. (2023). The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review. Electronic Journal of General Medicine, 20(6), em533. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522

MLA

Al-Awad, Feras A "The phenomenon of musical hallucinations: An updated review". Electronic Journal of General Medicine, vol. 20, no. 6, 2023, em533. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/13522