Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDelusions versus Hallucinations: Key DifferencesTypes of Delusions and HallucinationsWhat Causes Delusions and Hallucinations?How Are Delusions and Hallucinations Diagnosed?Treatment for Delusions and HallucinationsTakeaways

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Delusions versus Hallucinations: Key Differences

Types of Delusions and Hallucinations

What Causes Delusions and Hallucinations?

How Are Delusions and Hallucinations Diagnosed?

Treatment for Delusions and Hallucinations

Takeaways

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Delusions and hallucinations are both distortions of reality that can occur when a person is experiencingpsychosis. Delusions are distorted beliefs, while hallucinations are imaginary sensations (including sights and sounds).

At a GlanceBut what exactly are delusions and hallucinations? How do they differ? While both occur as part of psychosis, there are important differences between the two. Delusions are beliefs not based on reality, while hallucinations are perceptual experiences that are not connected to what is present in the real world. Substance use, mental health conditions, brain diseases, infections, and fever are just a few potential causes. If you are experiencing these symptoms, your doctor will evaluate your condition and may perform psychiatric testing, blood tests, and imaging scans to understand what is going on. Treatment may involve hospitalization, medication, therapy, and rehabilitation.

At a Glance

But what exactly are delusions and hallucinations? How do they differ? While both occur as part of psychosis, there are important differences between the two. Delusions are beliefs not based on reality, while hallucinations are perceptual experiences that are not connected to what is present in the real world. Substance use, mental health conditions, brain diseases, infections, and fever are just a few potential causes. If you are experiencing these symptoms, your doctor will evaluate your condition and may perform psychiatric testing, blood tests, and imaging scans to understand what is going on. Treatment may involve hospitalization, medication, therapy, and rehabilitation.

Delusionsare persistent, unshakable beliefs that are not based on reality.For instance, a person may believe that aliens control their thoughts or that black and red cars on the street send them coded messages only they can decipher.

Hallucinations, on the other hand, involve imaginary sensations that no one else can experience.For instance, people may hear sounds or voices when no one else is in the room or see spiders crawling across the wall.

An important difference between delusions and hallucinations is that delusions are cognitions (thoughts) whereas hallucinations are sensory experiences. However, since these symptoms often occur simultaneously and overlap, it can be hard to distinguish one from another.

For instance, a person may have the delusional belief that someone is trying to kill them and may have hallucinations where they hear threatening voices. Neither may be true in reality; however, they can feel very real to the person experiencing them and cause them to react or behave in unusual ways.

There are multiple types of delusions and hallucinations that people may experience. Let’s take a look at how they compare to one another.

DelusionsCognitive experiencesInvolve beliefs and thoughts that feel real but are notHallucinationsSensory experiencesInvolve sensations, feelings, sounds, voices, and other perceptions that are not real

DelusionsCognitive experiencesInvolve beliefs and thoughts that feel real but are not

Cognitive experiences

Involve beliefs and thoughts that feel real but are not

HallucinationsSensory experiencesInvolve sensations, feelings, sounds, voices, and other perceptions that are not real

Sensory experiences

Involve sensations, feelings, sounds, voices, and other perceptions that are not real

Types of Delusions

These are some of the types of delusions a person may experience:

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Types of Hallucinations

The differenttypes of hallucinationsinvolve the different senses:

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Delusions and hallucinations aresymptoms of psychosisthat often stem from the same cause. Some of the potential causes of psychosis include:

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Sincedelusionsand hallucinations are often symptoms of other health conditions, it’s important to diagnose and treat the underlying cause.

If you or a loved one are experiencing either delusions or hallucinations, seek help immediately. You can contact a medical or mental healthcare provider who can offer a diagnosis or refer you to a specialist.

The diagnostic process may involve:

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Treatment for delusions and hallucinations can vary depending on the underlying cause, but it may involve:

Hospitalization

If the person is having a severe psychotic episode or is at risk of harming themselves or others, they may have to behospitalizeduntil they’re stabilized.

Antipsychotic Medication

Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)can help people recognize delusions and hallucinations and help them control their reactions to them.For instance, the person may learn to understand that if no one else can see the ketchup bottle dancing on the table, it probably isn’t real.

Rehabilitation and Support

People who experience psychosis may need rehabilitation to help them function independently, and may benefit from joining support groups, where they can interact with others who have had similar experiences.

Treatment for Psychosis

Delusions and hallucinations are both manifestations of psychosis. While it’s easy to confuse them, it’s important to remember that they are not the same thing. Delusions involve thinking patterns, thoughts, and beliefs that are not rooted in reality. Hallucinations involve sensory experiences that are not rooted in reality. Both may occur simultaneously, and have similar causes, diagnosis, and treatment.

It can be hard to watch a loved one experience delusions or hallucinations, particularly the first time. However, it’s important to help them get the treatment they need, to help reduce these occurrences.

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Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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