Auditory hallucinations in nonpsychotic children with affective syndromes and migraines: Report of 13 cases

This report describes the discovery of a possible association between auditory hallucinations, migraine, and affective/anxiety disorders in nonpsychotic children. The cases were culled by a review of all consultations in an outpatient practice in an 8-month period. Thirteen cases of nonpsychotic children who experienced hallucinations (auditory in 12) were found. All but one suffered from a variety of major affective or anxiety/panic disorders and migraine headaches. The family histories were strongly positive for affective/anxiety disorders and migraine, and four of the parents also had a history of healing voices. The age of onset of the auditory hallucinations, where known (8 cases), was between 4 and 8 years. In only two cases did the voices accompany the migraine attacks, and these two children also heard voices at other times. Although a strong association between migraine and anxiety, panic, and affective syndromes in adults has been repeatedly found in epidemiologic study, no such association has been studied in children, and this is the first known report of a possible association between migraine, affective/anxiety disorders, and auditory hallucinations in nonpsychotic children. It suggests the need for epidemiologic study.