Hallucinations involve sensing things such as visions, sounds, or smells that seem real but are not. These things are created by the mind. Show
Common hallucinations can include:
Sometimes, hallucinations are normal. For example, hearing the voice of or briefly seeing a loved one who recently died can be a part of the grieving process. There are many causes of hallucinations, including:
A person who begins to hallucinate and is detached from reality should get checked by a health care professional right away. Many medical and mental conditions that can cause hallucinations may quickly become emergencies. The person should not be left alone. Call your health care provider, go to the emergency room, or call 911 or the local emergency number. A person who smells odors that are not there should also be evaluated by a provider. These hallucinations may be caused by medical conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson disease. Your provider will do a physical examination and take a medical history. They will also ask you questions about your hallucinations. For example, how long the hallucinations have been happening, when they occur, or whether you have been taking medicines or using alcohol or illegal drugs. Your provider may take a blood sample for testing. Treatment depends on the cause of your hallucinations. American Psychiatric Association website. Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders. In: American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. 2013:87-122. Freudenreich O, Brown HE, Holt DJ. Psychosis and schizophrenia. In: Stern TA, Fava M, Wilens TE, Rosenbaum JF, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 28. Kelly MP, Shapshak D. Thought disorders. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 100. Updated by: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. OverviewWhat is a hallucination?A hallucination is a false perception of objects or events involving your senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. Hallucinations seem real, but they’re not. Chemical reactions and/or abnormalities in your brain cause hallucinations. Hallucinations are typically a symptom of a psychosis-related disorder, particularly schizophrenia, but they can also result from substance use, neurological conditions and some temporary situations. A person may experience a hallucination with or without the insight that what they’re experiencing isn’t real. When a person thinks their hallucination is real, it’s considered a psychotic symptom. What are the types of hallucinations?There are several different types of hallucinations, including:
There are also types of hallucinations that are sleep-related, including:
What is the difference between a hallucination and a delusion?A hallucination is a sensory experience. It involves seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling or feeling something that isn't there. Delusions are unshakable beliefs in something untrue. For example, they can involve someone thinking they have special powers or they’re being poisoned despite strong evidence that these beliefs aren’t true. What’s the difference between a hallucination and an illusion?Hallucinations are a perception not based on sensory input, whereas illusions are misinterpretations of sensory inputs. In other words, hallucinations involve experiencing something that doesn’t exist. Illusions happen when you misinterpret something real in your environment. For example, you might mistake a black bag sitting on a window sill for a black cat. Upon further examination, you realize that it’s a bag and not a cat. This is an illusion. How do I know if I'm hallucinating?It’s possible to experience hallucinations while being aware that they aren't real. For example, some people grieving the death of a loved one may momentarily hear their deceased loved one’s voice or see them, but they know that what they’re hearing or seeing is impossible. Most people are also able to tell that the hallucinations that happen when they’re falling asleep or waking up aren’t real. In these cases, you can use context clues and your environment to tell that what you’re “experiencing” isn’t real. However, some people don’t realize that they’re hallucinating. This is more common in chronic conditions like schizophrenia and dementia. Possible CausesWhat are the possible causes of hallucinations?There are many possible causes of hallucinations, including:
Temporary causes of hallucinationsThe following conditions or situations may temporarily cause hallucinations:
Experiencing hallucinations in these ways is usually not a cause for concern. However, if you have an acute medical issue that’s causing them, like an infection or a fever, it’s important to seek medical treatment for the issue. Mental health conditions that may cause hallucinationsSchizophrenia is the main mental health condition that causes hallucinations. Schizophrenia refers to both a single condition and a spectrum of conditions that fall under the category of psychosis-related disorders. These are conditions where a person experiences some form of “disconnection” from reality (psychosis), which can include hallucinations. Conditions that fall under the schizophrenia spectrum and may cause hallucinations include:
Hearing voices is the most common type of hallucination in people with these mental health conditions. Other mental health conditions that may cause hallucinations include:
Neurological conditions that may cause hallucinationsNeurological conditions that may cause hallucinations include:
Other conditions that can cause hallucinationsCharles Bonnet syndrome causes a person whose vision has started to deteriorate to see hallucinations. This condition only causes visual hallucinations. Terminal illnesses, including liver failure, kidney failure, stage 3 HIV/AIDS and brain cancer can all cause hallucinations. Medications that can cause hallucinationsMany prescription medications can occasionally cause or worsen hallucinations as a side effect. Elderly people may be at greater risk due to increased sensitivity to medications. Hallucinations caused by medications may be dose-related and usually stop when you discontinue the medication. Your healthcare provider is the best source of information about medication side effects. Never stop taking a medication without speaking to your healthcare provider first. Care and TreatmentHow are hallucinations treated?The treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause. Hallucinations caused by temporary conditions, such as high fever, severe dehydration or infection, will resolve once the underlying condition has been treated. Certain medications and therapies may help treat hallucinations in people with chronic conditions that cause them, including:
Can hallucinations be prevented?While not all hallucinations can be prevented, there are some strategies you can use at home that might help reduce the frequency of them for certain people with neurological conditions that may cause hallucinations, including:
If you’re taking medication to help treat hallucinations, it’s important to continue taking the medication unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Stopping the medication suddenly can cause more intense hallucinations. How can I help someone who is experiencing a hallucination?If you’re with someone who’s experiencing a hallucination, there are some steps you should take:
When to Call the DoctorWhen should I see my healthcare provider about hallucinations?If you or someone you know is experiencing hallucinations and is detached from reality, you or they should get checked by a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Many medical and mental health conditions that can cause hallucinations may quickly become emergencies. The person experiencing hallucinations shouldn’t be left alone. A note from Cleveland Clinic It’s important for people experiencing hallucinations to talk about them with their family and healthcare team. Hallucinations are manageable with treatment and can become disturbing or dangerous if they’re not treated. Discuss all possible symptoms with your healthcare provider, no matter how minor or bizarre you may think they are. Hallucinations can make you feel nervous, paranoid and frightened, so it's important to be with and talk with someone you can trust. What is the most common type of hallucinations in psychotic disorders?While the majority of hallucinations reported in primary psychotic disorders are auditory, they may also be visual, olfactory, tactile, or gustatory. Visual hallucinations have been reported in 16%–72% of patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder.
What type of hallucinations are the most common?Auditory (sound) hallucinations: These are the most common type of hallucinations. They involve hearing sounds that aren't real, like music, footsteps or doors banging. Some people hear voices when no one has spoken. The voices may be positive, negative or neutral.
What kind of hallucinations do psychosis have?Symptoms of psychosis
hallucinations – where a person hears, sees and, in some cases, feels, smells or tastes things that do not exist outside their mind but can feel very real to the person affected by them; a common hallucination is hearing voices.
What are the 5 types of hallucinations?Types of hallucinations. Visual hallucinations. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that aren't there. ... . Olfactory hallucinations. Olfactory hallucinations involve your sense of smell. ... . Gustatory hallucinations. ... . Auditory hallucinations. ... . Tactile hallucinations. ... . Mental health conditions. ... . Lack of sleep. ... . Other conditions.. |