Relation between command hallucinations and dangerous behavior

This article presents an updated review of studies on the relation between command hallucinations and dangerous behavior. The author reviewed all stud ies published between 1966 and 1997 according to MEDLINE and between 1974 a nd 1997 according to PSYCLIT. Forty-one studies were found, of which 82.9 p ercent dealt with the relation between command hallucinations and dangerous behavior. Of these studies, 32.3 percent were controlled, and they were gr ouped into three partially overlapping classes: those concerned with violen t behavior, those concerned with suicidal behavior, and those concerned wit h mediating variables. Most of these studies agreed on the non-existence of an immediate relation between command hallucinations and dangerous (violen t or suicidal) behavior. Even though the studies were divided about the exi stence of a relation between severity/dangerousness of command content and compliance with the commands, there was agreement about the existence of a direct relation between compliance with commands and both benevolence and f amiliarity of commanding voice. It seems that the research and knowledge av ailable to date on this subject is both scant and methodologically weak. Fu ture study should probably concentrate on mediating factors, such as apprai sal and coping attitudes and behaviors.