The validation and reliability of Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale (LSHS) in Iranian sample

Recently an increased interest in the hallucinatory experiences and its phenomenology has resulted in a number of measuring tools for using in the clinical and subclinical population including the Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale (LSHS). The aim of this study was to investigate validation and reliability of this scale among Iranian sample.
The current study was descriptive research. A sample of 312 normal participants (88 male & 224 female) from university students and 30 patients with schizophrenia disorder took part in this research. Participants responded to Launay-Slade Hallucinations (LSHS), Schizotypal Personality Scale (STA) and Chapmans’s Psychosis Proneness Scales. Data were analyzed by explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, multiple analyses of variance and Pierson correlation coefficient.
Two factor solutions were extracted by Principal Component Analysis that named intrusive thoughts- vivid daydreams & auditory - visual hallucinations. There were no sex differences among groups. Differential validity was tested by comparing Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale (LSHS) scores between schizophrenic patients and normal people which was differential. Concurrent application of positive psychotic symptom questionnaires was used to calculate the convergent validity that showed acceptable coefficients. The internal constancy and test-retest reliabilities were found to be high.
Based on present study’s results, it was concluded that Launay-Slade Hallucinations Scale (LSHS) as a measure of hallucinatory experiences contain good validity and reliability in Iranian population and it can be used as valid measure in researches related to psychosis.