What are the symptoms of hallucinations? What is hallucination

hallucination is a mental disorder characterized by persistent or recurrent hallucinations, in which patients experience false sensory experiences without external stimuli. Common manifestations include auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, tactile hallucinations, etc. Hallucination may be caused by factors such as schizophrenia, organic brain diseases, substance abuse, severe depression, or sleep deprivation, and requires comprehensive treatment through medication, psychological intervention, and etiological therapy.

1. Auditory hallucinations

Auditory hallucinations are the most common manifestation of hallucinations, where patients may hear non-existent sounds such as dialogue, comments, or imperative speech. These voices may come from familiar or unfamiliar individuals, and their content may be threatening or derogatory. Some patients may experience strong emotional reactions and even self harm or aggressive behavior due to auditory hallucinations. Diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome often accompany these symptoms.

2. Visual hallucination

Visual hallucination refers to seeing people, animals, or objects that do not actually exist, such as light and shadow appearing out of thin air, distorted faces, or complex scenes. These symptoms are more typical in Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease, or drug poisoning. Patients may experience fear or confusion about the content of hallucinations, and in severe cases, it may affect their orientation and ability to engage in daily activities.

3. Tactile hallucination

Tactile hallucination refers to the patient feeling an unreal tactile experience on the surface or inside of the skin, such as crawling insects, electric shock, or being touched by someone. Substance abuse, especially cocaine or methamphetamine poisoning, can easily cause such symptoms, and some central nervous system infections or peripheral neuropathy may also lead to them. Patients often scratch their skin repeatedly due to discomfort, causing secondary damage.

4. Olfactory hallucinations and taste hallucinations

Olfactory hallucinations and taste hallucinations often occur simultaneously, and patients may experience abnormal sensations such as smelling rotten odors or tasting metallic odors. Symptoms such as temporal lobe epilepsy, frontal lobe tumors, or the use of certain psychoactive substances may occur. Some patients may refuse to eat due to their belief that food is toxic, leading to complications such as malnutrition.

5. Sensory hallucinations

Sensory hallucinations are manifested as erroneous perceptions of the internal state of the body, such as organ displacement, visceral decay, and other bizarre experiences. Severe schizophrenia or certain cultural related mental disorders may present with such symptoms, leading patients to develop stubborn delusions and refuse to accept medical examination results.

Patients with hallucinations need to use antipsychotic drugs such as risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, etc. under the guidance of a psychiatrist, while also cooperating with cognitive-behavioral therapy and social function training. Family members should maintain a quiet and stable environment, avoid arguing about the authenticity of hallucination content, and regularly accompany patients for follow-up visits. Ensuring a regular schedule and moderate exercise can help alleviate symptoms, and hospitalization for systematic treatment may be necessary if necessary. If patients are found to have a tendency to self harm or harm others due to hallucinations, they should immediately contact professional institutions for intervention.