title: Visual hallucinations.
abstract: Hallucinations may be defined as perceptions that occur in the absence of a corresponding stimulus. They can involve any of the five senses, hence visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory and olfactory hallucinations. By contrast, illusions depend upon a misinterpretation of an external stimulus. In this review we outline the causes, and describe the characteristics of various hallucinatory states. This should help in the assessment of a patient presenting with visual hallucinations.
authors.affiliation: St Luke's Hospital, Bradford.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barodawala
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Mulley
mesh_terms: D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications