Hallucinations

Alternative Names

When to Contact a Medical Professional

A person who begins to hallucinate and is detached from reality should get checked by a health care professional right away, because many medical conditions that can cause hallucinations may quickly become emergencies. A person who is hallucinating may become nervous, paranoid, and frightened, and should not be left alone.

Call your health care provider, go to the emergency room, or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if someone appears to be hallucinating and is unable to tell hallucinations from reality.

The health care provider will do a physical examination and take a medical history. Blood may be drawn for testing.

Medical history questions may include the following:

• Do you hear a voice?
• Do you see something?
• Do you have a sensation of feeling something or being touched?
• How long have you been having hallucinations?
• When did the hallucinations first appear?
• Do the hallucinations occur just before or after sleep?
• Has there been a recent death or other emotional event?
• What medications are you taking?
• Do you use alcohol regularly?
• Do you use illegal drugs?
• Are the hallucinations related to a traumatic event?
• Is there agitation?
• Is there confusion?
• Is there a fever?
• Is there a headache?
• Is there vomiting?

References

Addington D, Bouchard RH, Goldberg J, Honer B, Malla A, Norman R, Tempier R. Canadian Psychiatric Association Working Group. Clinical Practice Guidelines Treatment of Schizophrenia. Can J Psychiatry, 2005;50:7S-57S.

International Early Psychosis Association Writing Group. International clinical practice guidelines for early psychosis. Br J Psychiatry, 2005;187:s120-s124.