(4) Olfactory:Īlso called Phantosmia, this type of hallucination is less common than auditory and visual hallucination. Certain medications, mental health disorders, substance use disorders, neurological conditions have been known to trigger these hallucinations. For example, People having it may feel as if bugs are crawling over their body or are trapped inside their body without a real source. It involves a false sense of touch in absence of a real source. It is the second most common type of hallucination. It involves seeing shapes, colors, objects, or people that aren’t physically present or real. They may also hear other kinds of things such as music or even meaningless noise. People presenting with auditory hallucinations often complain about hearing external voices that are unpleasant, repetitive, commanding, or interactive. It is the most common type of hallucination which involves hearing voices or sounds that no one else can hear. Types of Hallucinations.īroadly there are five categories of Hallucinations based on the modality they are experienced. Hallucinations occur frequently in people with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, however sometimes people may experience hallucinations even in the absence of a mental health disorder such as in substance abuse, certain medications, or even physical injuries to the head. An example of hallucination would be a person who hears the voices of people speaking where in reality no one has spoken or is present around. It involves the five sensory organs, namely the eyes, nose, ears, taste, and sense of touch.

Hallucination is primarily a disorder of perception in which the person having it, hears, sees, smells, or even feels things in the absence of real stimuli. Let’s have a look at the differences in order to have a better understanding. But there are major differences between both- while one is sensory, the other is cognitive.

In Psychosis a person lacks connection with reality, has marked disturbance in personality, is not able to function adequately in social, interpersonal, or occupational life, has poor judgment and absence of understanding about their own symptoms and abnormal behavior.Īlso, since symptoms of Hallucinations and Delusions often co-occur in several mental health disorders, they can often be confused. However, clinically both are a part of a serious mental health condition called ‘Psychosis’ and may not be as simple as used by lay people in day-to-day interactions. Many people commonly use these words to express their own or someone else’s experience. Delusion vs Hallucination: What is the difference? Often, we hear the terms ‘Hallucination’ and ‘Delusion’, when we talk or read about mental health.

Illusion vs hallucination