Hallucinations

Definition:

A hallucination occurs when a person perceives something that is not actually there.

Common types of hallucinations include:

• Auditory hallucinations -- hearing voices that are not actually present

• Visual hallucinations -- seeing images, such as people, that are not there

• Tactile hallucinations -- the perception of being touched or something being on one’s skin when there is nothing there

Hallucinations are psychotic symptoms that may be associated with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, but can also be experienced by people with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or occasionally by people with borderline personality disorder during periods of stress.