Phantom vibration syndrome among medical staff: a cross sectional survey

Phantom phone signals and other hallucinatory-like experiences: Investigation of similarities and differences

Phantom Phone Signals (PPS) and other hallucinatory-like experiences (HLEs) are perceptual anomalies that are commonly reported in the general population. Both phenomena concern the same sensory modality, but PPS are restricted to smartphone use. The current study aimed to assess similarities and differences between these types of anomalies in relation to general psychopathology, metacognitive beliefs about perception, smartphone dependence, and susceptibility to top-down influences on perception. We analyzed data from a Polish community sample (N = 236, aged 18-69). We used questions pertaining to PPS, a questionnaire pertaining to HLEs (Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire), and other variables of interest (Symptom Checklist-27-plus, Mobile Phone Problematic Use Scale, and the Beliefs about Perception Questionnaire). Additionally, a false-perception task manipulating cognitive expectancy (i.e., a visual cue associated with auditory stimuli vs. no visual cue) was devised to measure top-down influences on perception. Regression analyses showed that only top-down beliefs about perception predicted both PPS and HLEs. Smartphone dependency proved to be a stronger predictor of PPS than other measured variables, whereas for HLEs, general psychopathology was the strongest predictor. Current results suggest that despite sharing some mechanisms, PPS and HLEs may have independent underlying factors.

Prevalence of Phantom Vibrations and Ringing Syndrome, and its Association with Smartphone Addiction among Medical Students of Teaching Hospital, South India

INTRODUCTION

Phantom vibration syndrome (PVS) and phantom ringing syndrome (PRS) is a false sensation of phone vibration and ringing when it is not. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of PVS/PRS among medical students and to determine factors including level of smartphone usage associated with the development of phantom sensations.

METHODS

Using cross-sectional analytical design, sociodemographic details, information on phantom sensations and phone usage among medical students in our institution in Puducherry, India, was obtained. Stratified random sampling strategy was incorporated to achieve a sample size of 369. Also, overuse of phone was assessed using Smartphone Addiction scale - short version (SAS-SV). Prevalence of PVS and PRS was summarized as a proportion with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Prevalence ratio for the factors associated with the phantom syndrome (PVS/PRS) was estimated using log-binomial regression.

RESULTS

Using data from 383 students, the prevalence of phantom syndrome (PVS/PRS) was 44.9% (39.9-50.0%). PVS was more prevalent than PRS (27.9% vs 21.2%). There was a significant difference in SAS-SV scores between those with the phantom syndrome and those without. Students who stay in hostel (aPR = 1.88; 95% CI: 1.46 to 2.43), self-reported overuse of phone (aPR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.56 to 2.45) and higher smartphone addiction score (aPR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.53) were found to be significant determinants to have PVS/PRS.

CONCLUSION

Overall, one in two medical students had either PVS or PRS in our institution, Puducherry. Higher smartphone usage was a significant predictor of the presence of PVS/PRS.

Timed Vibration Sense and Joint Position Sense among Male University Students Experiencing Phantom Vibration Syndrome, Affecting Their Lifestyle

Background

Vibration dysfunction can cause a number of pathologies in the body, starting with the distal joints and swiftly progressing to proximal joints if not addressed. As a result, it's important to be aware of vibration dysfunction and syndromes like phantom vibration syndrome. The purpose of the following study was to determine if phantom vibration syndrome affects university male students' lifestyles in terms of vibration sensitivity and joint position sense.

Methods

A cross sectional study design with a total of 96 individuals were chosen on the basis of random sampling. Participants were assessed for potential phantom vibrations using a self-structured and validated questionnaire approved by clinical experts. Following the completion of questionnaire, the individuals timed vibration sense and Joint position sense were tested using a tuning fork (128 hz) and a full circle goniometer respectively.

Results

According to the results of the survey, 100% (96) of individuals experienced phantom vibrations, and 97.9% (94) of individuals assume their phone was ringing when it isn't. 56.3 % (54) of people become anxious due to phantom vibrations or ringing of phone. When current study's median value for timed vibration sensation (4 sec) was compared to previous studies, the results were found to be within normal ranges, implying that the phantom vibration syndrome had no physiological influence on timed vibration sense (VBS). In previous studies, the hip joint position sense average absolute error score decreased linearly from the target position. The reproduce angle from the target position reduced overall in the current study, indicating no change in joint position sense in people experiencing phantom vibration syndrome.

Conclusion

Phantom vibration syndrome effects individual psychologically but not physiologically.

Investigation of the Role of Anxiety and Depression on the Formation of Phantom Vibration and Ringing Syndrome Caused by Working Stress during Medical Internship

Phantom vibration syndrome (PVS) and phantom ringing syndrome (PRS) are prevalent hallucinations during medical internship. Depression and anxiety are probably understudied risk factors of PVS and PRS. The aim was to evaluate the role of anxiety and depression on the relationship between working stress during medical internship and PVS and PRS. A prospective longitudinal study, consisted of 74 medical interns, was carried out. The severity of phantom vibrations and ringing, as well as anxiety and depression as measured before, at the third, sixth, and 12th month during internship, and two weeks after internship. We conducted a causal mediation analysis to quantify the role of depression and in the mechanism of working stress during medical internship inducing PVS and PRS. The results showed that depression explained 21.9% and 8.4% for stress-induced PRS and PVS, respectively. In addition, anxiety explained 15.0% and 7.8% for stress-induced PRS and PVS, respectively. Our findings showed both depression and anxiety can explain a portion of stress-induced PVS and PRS during medical internship and might be more important in clinical practice and benefit to prevention of work-related burnout.

Phantom Phone Signals in youths: Prevalence, correlates and relation to psychopathology

The term Phantom Phone Signals (PPS) refers to the perception of a mobile phone ringing, vibrating and blinking when in fact it did not. Data in youth are lacking, and controversies exist on whether PPS is related to psychopathology. In the present study, we showed data on the prevalence of PPS in a population (N = 2959) of students aged 10 to 14 years. We also explored the possible association between PPS and emotional or behavioural problems. Our results showed that PPS is a relatively common phenomenon with a prevalence rate of 58.9%, being more frequent in females. In univariate and multivariate analyses, we also found an association between the presence of PPS and emotional problems and temper tantrums, after accounting for relevant covariates. PPS is a relevant phenomenon to be considered in youth. It is common and may be a signal for emotional problems.

Prevalence and Pattern of Phantom Ringing and Phantom Vibration among Medical Interns and their Relationship with Smartphone Use and Perceived Stress

BACKGROUND

Phantom sensations like phantom vibration (PV) and phantom ringing (PR)- the sensations of vibration and ringing of the phone when they are not, respectively-are among the latest in the category of "techno-pathology" to receive global attention. This study was conducted with the aim to estimate the prevalence of such sensations among medical interns and their association with perceived stress levels and smartphone usage pattern.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ninety-three medical interns using smartphone were recruited for the study. Data were collected anonymously using semi-structured questionnaire, perceived stress scale (PSS), and smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine percent students had a high level of stress, whereas 40% had problematic smartphone use. Sixty percent students experienced PV, whereas 42% experienced PR and both were significantly associated with higher frequency of phone use and the use of vibration mode. Mean SAS-SV score was significantly lower in students who did not perceive PR/PV, whereas mean PSS score was significantly lower in students who did not perceive PV.

CONCLUSION

This study confirms findings from other national and international researches about the experience of cell phone phantom sensations and their relationship with the pattern of phone use and stress level. It also brings to light high levels of stress and problematic smartphone use among medical students during the internship.

A Perceptual Inference Mechanism for Hallucinations Linked to Striatal Dopamine

Hallucinations, a cardinal feature of psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, are known to depend on excessive striatal dopamine. However, an underlying cognitive mechanism linking dopamine dysregulation and the experience of hallucinatory percepts remains elusive. Bayesian models explain perception as an optimal combination of prior expectations and new sensory evidence, where perceptual distortions such as illusions and hallucinations may occur if prior expectations are afforded excessive weight. Such excessive weight of prior expectations, in turn, could stem from a gain-control process controlled by neuromodulators such as dopamine. To test for such a dopamine-dependent gain-control mechanism of hallucinations, we studied unmedicated patients with schizophrenia with varying degrees of hallucination severity and healthy individuals using molecular imaging with a pharmacological manipulation of dopamine, structural imaging, and a novel task designed to measure illusory changes in the perceived duration of auditory stimuli under different levels of uncertainty. Hallucinations correlated with a perceptual bias, reflecting disproportional gain on expectations under uncertainty. This bias could be pharmacologically induced by amphetamine, strongly correlated with striatal dopamine release, and related to cortical volume of the dorsal anterior cingulate, a brain region involved in tracking environmental uncertainty. These findings outline a novel dopamine-dependent mechanism for perceptual modulation in physiological conditions and further suggest that this mechanism may confer vulnerability to hallucinations in hyper-dopaminergic states underlying psychosis.

Nomophobia: an emerging issue in medical institutions?

BACKGROUND

Nomophobia is No Mobile Phone Phobia - the fear of being without a mobile device or beyond mobile phone contact. The time and money wastage by medical students is a negative aspect of mobile phone dependence. This time can be utilized for academic and recreational activities.

AIM

To assess the prevalence of Nomophobia in the students in 1st year MBBS.

METHODS

Study area: A medical college in Pune city.

STUDY PERIOD

December 2015 to February 2016. A cross-sectional study was carried out on all the students of 1st year MBBS. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed statistically by simple proportions using SPSS v20.

RESULTS

A total of 145 students were monitored according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Amongst all the participants, 45.5% were males (66/145) and 54.5% were females (79/145). Mild Nomophobia was found in 17.9% students whereas 60% had moderate and 22.1% had severe Nomophobia. Amongst the males, 56.06% and 24.24% had moderate and severe Nomophobia, respectively while in females, moderate and severe Nomophobia was found to be 63.25% and 20.25%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Nomophobia is found to be prevalent in students of 1st year MBBS.

The prevalence of phantom vibration/ringing syndromes and their related factors in Iranian' students of medical sciences

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Mobile phone abuse can cause pathologic stress that may lead to addictive behavior such as Phantom Vibration Syndrome (PVS) and Phantom Ringing Syndrome (PRS). The current study aimed to determine the PVS and PRS due to mobile phone use in students of Qom University of medical Sciences in Iran.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

The participants were 380 students selected by proportional stratified random sampling method in each stratum.

MEASUREMENTS

Data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by descriptive and analytic statistical methods including t-test, chi square and analysis of variance.

FINDINGS

The prevalence of PVS and PRS due to mobile phones in students of medical sciences was estimated to be 54.3% and 49.3%, respectively. PVS was higher in female students than in males while the PRS was higher in male students. There was a significant relationship between PVS and using social networks such as Viber, WhatsApp, and Line. In addition, a significant association was observed between PVS and friend-finding, chatting and entertainment.

CONCLUSION

Studies should be done in the future to assess the long-term complication of overusing mobile phones. In the current study, the prevalence of PVS and PRS in half of students is considerable.

High Ringxiety: Attachment Anxiety Predicts Experiences of Phantom Cell Phone Ringing

Mobile cell phone users have reported experiencing ringing and/or vibrations associated with incoming calls and messages, only to find that no call or message had actually registered. We believe this phenomenon can be understood as a human signal detection issue, with potentially important influences from psychological attributes. We hypothesized that individuals higher in attachment anxiety would report more frequent phantom cell phone experiences, whereas individuals higher in attachment avoidance would report less frequent experiences. If these experiences are primarily psychologically related to attributes of interpersonal relationships, associations with attachment style should be stronger than for general sensation seeking. We also predicted that certain contexts would interact with attachment style to increase or decrease the likelihood of experiencing phantom cell phone calls and messages. Attachment anxiety directly predicted the frequency of phantom ringing and notification experiences, whereas attachment avoidance and sensation seeking did not directly predict frequency. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance interacted with contextual factors (expectations for a call or message and concerned about an issue that one may be contacted about) in the expected directions for predicting phantom cell phone experiences.

Phantom vibration and phantom ringing among mobile phone users: A systematic review of literature

The last decade has witnessed considerable interest in pathological conditions stemming from misuse or overuse of technology, a condition commonly referred to as technopathology. Of the several complaints reported, phantom vibration or phantom ringing is one that has not yet been widely explored. The objective of conducting a systematic review is to provide an understanding of the phenomena and summarize the research conducted so far. Major databases were searched and articles that matched the inclusion criteria were selected for final analysis. According to findings obtained, phantom vibration or phantom ringing was commonly experienced by mobile phone users; however, few found it bothersome and hence took no steps to eliminate it. As of now, literature in the area is limited and many aspects of the phenomena such as its prevalence across populations, causal factors, consequences, and treatment plans are yet to be studied. Also, a clinical criterion for identification of the condition needs to be formulated. With increase in the number of individuals reporting mobile phone-related problem behavior, phantom vibration, or phantom ringing may be expected to become a cause of concern for mental health professionals within some years. Finally, the need for further research is emphasized while presenting directions for future investigations.

Possible association between phantom vibration syndrome and occupational burnout

BACKGROUND

Phantom vibration syndrome (PVS) and phantom ringing syndrome (PRS) occur in many cell phone users. Previous studies have indicated an association between PVS/PRS and job stress. The aim of this study was to determine if PVS/PRS were also associated with occupational burnout.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of 384 employees of a high-tech company in northern Taiwan. They all completed a phantom vibration and ringing questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Chinese version of the Occupational Burnout Inventory.

RESULTS

Significantly more women and people with at least a college education were in the population with PRS and PVS, respectively. Anxiety and depression had no associations with PVS/PRS. Higher scores for personal fatigue, job fatigue, and service target fatigue had an independent impact on the presence of PVS, but only a higher score for service target fatigue had an independent impact on the presence of PRS.

CONCLUSION

The independent association between work-related burnout and PVS/PRS suggests that PVS/PRS may be a harbinger of mental stress or a component of the clinical burnout syndrome, and may even be a more convenient and accurate predictor of occupational burnout.

A dimensional approach to the phantom vibration and ringing syndrome during medical internship

Phantom vibrations and ringing of mobile phones are prevalent hallucinations in the general population. They might be considered as a "normal" brain mechanism. The aim of this study was to determine if a dimensional approach to identify individuals suffering from these hallucinations was more important than a categorical approach. A prospective longitudinal study of 74 medical interns (male: 46, mean age: 24.8 ± 1.2) was carried out using repeated investigations of the severity of phantom vibrations and ringing, as well as accompanying symptoms of anxiety and depression as measured by Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before, at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th month during internship, and 2 weeks after internship. We utilized the cognitive and somatic subscales of the BDI, as well as the subjective, somatic and panic subscales of the BAI. The correlation between phantom vibration and ringing was lowest before the internship but became moderate during the internship and high 2 weeks after it. Compared to interns with subclinical phantom ringing and vibrations, interns with severe phantom vibrations and ringing had higher subjective and somatic anxiety and somatic depressive scores at any time point throughout the internship. Only interns with severe phantom ringing had more cognitive/affective depression. A dimensional approach to the phantom vibration and ringing syndrome is a powerful way to identify their correlation, as well as their association with anxiety and depression.

Prevalent hallucinations during medical internships: phantom vibration and ringing syndromes

BACKGROUND

Phantom vibration syndrome is a type of hallucination reported among mobile phone users in the general population. Another similar perception, phantom ringing syndrome, has not been previously described in the medical literature.

METHODS

A prospective longitudinal study of 74 medical interns (46 males, 28 females; mean age, 24.8±1.2 years) was conducted using repeated investigations of the prevalence and associated factors of phantom vibration and ringing. The accompanying symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated with the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories before the internship began, and again at the third, sixth, and twelfth internship months, and two weeks after the internship ended.

RESULTS

The baseline prevalence of phantom vibration was 78.1%, which increased to 95.9% and 93.2% in the third and sixth internship months. The prevalence returned to 80.8% at the twelfth month and decreased to 50.0% 2 weeks after the internship ended. The baseline prevalence of phantom ringing was 27.4%, which increased to 84.9%, 87.7%, and 86.3% in the third, sixth, and twelfth internship months, respectively. This returned to 54.2% two weeks after the internship ended. The anxiety and depression scores also increased during the internship, and returned to baseline two weeks after the internship. There was no significant correlation between phantom vibration/ringing and symptoms of anxiety or depression. The incidence of both phantom vibration and ringing syndromes significantly increased during the internship, and subsequent recovery.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that phantom vibration and ringing might be entities that are independent of anxiety or depression during evaluation of stress-associated experiences during medical internships.