Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentTestsWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Tests
When to See a Provider
Hallucinations refer to the experience of sensing things that seem real but do not exist.During ahallucination, you may see, hear, feel, smell, or taste things that are not there—meaning they have no external source.
There are many possible causes for hallucinations, includingmental health disorders, physical conditions, sensory problems, and drug use or withdrawal. Treatment methods will depend on the cause of the hallucinations and can range from medicine and therapy to lifestyle changes, like cutting back on alcohol and eliminating drug use.
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Other signs that you or someone you know is having a hallucination may include:
How Common Are Hallucinations?Hallucinations are more common than you may think. One study inJAMA Psychiatryrevealed that about one in 20 people in the general population had experienced at least one hallucination in their life.
How Common Are Hallucinations?
Hallucinations are more common than you may think. One study inJAMA Psychiatryrevealed that about one in 20 people in the general population had experienced at least one hallucination in their life.
Types
Hallucinationshave some specific subtypes. Those that involve one of the five senses include:
Auditory and visual hallucinations are the two most common types of hallucinations. Gustatory hallucinations are very rare.
Many people associate hallucinations only with mental health disorders. However, there are many other possible reasons that someone may have a hallucination, including neurological disorders, substance use and withdrawal, sensory conditions, and more.
Mental Health Conditions
Both hallucinations anddelusionsfall under the broader category of psychosis—a mental state that involves losing touch with reality, but they are not the same.Hallucinations involve problems with sensory perceptions, such as hearing or seeing things that are not there.A delusion is a fixed, false belief that does not change even when someone is presented with evidence that it is not true.
People withpsychotic disorders(mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking, speech, and/or perceptions) and certain other mental health disorders are more likely to have hallucinations.Mental health conditions that may cause hallucinations include:
Neurological Conditions
Substance Use and Withdrawal
The followingpsychoactive substances(substances that alter the way the brain works) may cause hallucinations:
Hallucinations may occur while someone is intoxicated (drunk or high) or when they are in withdrawal after taking certain substances regularly.
Sensory Conditions
Many medical conditions that affect the senses, such as the ability to see or hear, can cause hallucinations.Some examples include:
Other Causes
Other medical causes for hallucinations may include:
Sometimes, hallucinations are not related to any medical condition or problem.You may be more at risk of hallucinating if you are:
Psychotherapy, such ascognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) may help change the way someone responds to and thinks about their hallucinations.If hallucinations are related to a history of trauma or abuse,trauma-informed therapymay help.
Antipsychotic medications, such as Risperdal (risperidone) and Seroquel (quetiapine), may be prescribed to treat symptoms of psychosis associated withschizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric and neurological conditions.
Other medications that have been found effective against hallucinations due to schizophrenia are quetiapine, amisulpride, ziprasidone, and olanzapine. One study found that 92% of patients who used one of the medications no longer experienced hallucinations after one year of treatment. Recent research suggests that haloperidol might be less effective than other options.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nuplazid (pimavanserin) to treat hallucinations in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
In many cases, treating the underlying medical cause for your hallucinations will improve or eliminate the hallucinations. A medical professional may also suggest changes to your overall lifestyle, such as cutting back on alcohol and drugs or getting more sleep.
How do you manage hallucinations?
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of Hallucinations?
From there, they may perform an evaluation to rule out potential medical contributions to your symptoms, including a physical exam, blood or urine tests, and diagnostic imaging (such as a brain scan).
You will likely need to see a specialist, such as apsychiatristorneurologist, for further assessment and treatment.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you think you may be having hallucinations, seek immediate medical help. Hallucinations could be a sign of an underlyingmental illnessor another serious medical condition. It’s important to seek a diagnosis so you can begin appropriate treatment.
If someone you know seems to be confused, disoriented, speaking incoherently, or losing touch with reality, it’s important not to leave them alone. Talk to a healthcare provider or go to the emergency room right away.
Seek Emergency HelpCall 911 or seek emergency medical help for hallucinations if you:Have a seizureAre confusedAre speaking incoherently or not making senseHear voices telling you to harm yourself or others
Seek Emergency Help
Call 911 or seek emergency medical help for hallucinations if you:Have a seizureAre confusedAre speaking incoherently or not making senseHear voices telling you to harm yourself or others
Call 911 or seek emergency medical help for hallucinations if you:
Summary
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