Visual hallucinations in psychosis

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Visual hallucinations in psychosis are perceptual disturbances where individuals perceive something that does not exist in reality. These hallucinations are a common symptom of various psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and certain mood disorders.

Definition[edit | edit source]

A visual hallucination is defined as a visual perception that occurs in the absence of an external stimulus. In other words, individuals see something that is not there. These hallucinations can take various forms, such as seeing objects, people, or lights that do not exist, or seeing real objects but in a distorted or altered way.

Causes[edit | edit source]

Visual hallucinations in psychosis can be caused by a variety of factors. These include:

  • Brain abnormalities: Certain structural or functional abnormalities in the brain, particularly in areas involved in visual processing, can lead to visual hallucinations.
  • Neurotransmitter imbalances: Imbalances in certain neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, can also contribute to visual hallucinations.
  • Psychological stress: High levels of stress or emotional trauma can trigger visual hallucinations in some individuals.

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment for visual hallucinations in psychosis typically involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

  • Antipsychotic medication: These drugs can help reduce the frequency and intensity of hallucinations by correcting imbalances in neurotransmitters.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This form of therapy can help individuals learn to cope with their hallucinations and reduce their impact on daily life.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Template:Psychosis Template:Hallucinations

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Visual hallucinations in psychosis

PubMed
Clinical trials
UpToDate

AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Visual hallucinations in psychosis: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD