WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

Hallucinations and delusions are among the most commonly observed psychotic symptoms. Hallucinations are said to occur when an individual experiences a sensory impression that has no basis in reality. This impression could involve any of the senses. Thus hallucinations may be auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), kinesthetic (movement), tactile (touch), or visual (sight). For example, auditory hallucinations frequently involve the impression that one is hearing a voice. In each case, the sensory impression is falsely experienced as real. A delusion is a false belief that an individual holds despite evidence to the contrary. A common example is paranoia, in which a person has delusional beliefs that others are trying to harm him or her. Attempts to persuade the person that these beliefs are unfounded typically fail and may even result in the further entrenchment of the beliefs.

Psychotic Disorders include:

• Brief Psychotic Disorder (WebMD)
  
• Delusional Disorder (Merck)
  
• Schizoaffective Disorder (NAMI)
  
• Schizophrenia (WUMH)
  
• Schizophreniform (WebMD)
  
• Shared Psychotic Disorder (Cleveland Clinic)