Definition
A hallucination is a false sensory perception occurring without any external stimulus.
Characteristics
- Perception without stimulus
- Experienced as real by the patient
- May involve any sensory modality
Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Auditory | Hearing voices or sounds without an external source — most common type |
| Visual | Seeing objects, persons or scenes not actually present |
| Olfactory | Smelling odours that do not exist |
| Gustatory | Perception of non-existent tastes |
| Tactile | Feeling insects crawling on the skin, electric shocks, etc. |
High Yield
Auditory hallucination is the most common type. A hallucination is a disorder of perception with no external stimulus present.