Hallucinations: Difference between revisions

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*The perception of auditory, visual, tactile, or gustatory sensations that are not present
*The perception of auditory, visual, tactile, or gustatory sensations that are not present
*Etiology may be from underlying psychiatric disorder or organic cause.
*Etiology may be from underlying psychiatric disorder or organic cause.
''In non-auditory hallucinations, assume organic pathology unit proven otherwise.''
''In non-auditory hallucinations, assume organic pathology until proven otherwise.''


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==

Revision as of 17:40, 28 March 2014

Background

  • The perception of auditory, visual, tactile, or gustatory sensations that are not present
  • Etiology may be from underlying psychiatric disorder or organic cause.

In non-auditory hallucinations, assume organic pathology until proven otherwise.

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Organic Causes

Psychiatric Causes

  • Schizophrenia
  • Dementia
  • Parkinson's Disease

Workup

Workup should be targeted toward specific diagnosis. Cranial imaging is only useful if localized neurological findings or headache red flags

  • If concerned for suicidal or unknown toxic ingestion:
    • Aspirin
    • Tylenol level
    • ECG

Management

  • Treat the underlying pathology.
  • In the case of Alcohol Withdrawl Hallucinosis, no standard therapy has been established,[1] although tx with neuroleptics (e.g. Haldol) has shown some benefit. [2] Also continue to treat the alcohol withdrawal.

Disposition

See Also

Sources

  1. Neuroleptic treatment of alcohol hallucinosis: case series. PMID: 18030655
  2. Alcohol-induced hallucinosis. Clinical aspects, pathophysiology and therapy. PMID=9064548