Pseudo-hallucinations are for real in some patients with a bipolar disorder

Abstract

Objective To provide exemplars of pseudo-hallucinations experienced by six individuals with bipolar disorder, suggest that they may be preferentially overrepresented in those with that condition and argue that their presence does not indicate that the individual is necessarily psychotic. Method Historical definitions of pseudo-hallucinations are overviewed and six profiles are presented considering manifestations in those with a bipolar disorder, their sequencing and response to medication. Results The six patients initially judged such experiences as true hallucinations and, only over time, did they recognize their falsity. Clinical observation suggests that pseudo-hallucinations may be more common in those with a bipolar disorder and that they can precede, cooccur or follow disorder onset, can manifest during any phase of the condition and that they may or may not respond to medication prescribed for the bipolar disorder. Conclusions The exemplars of pseudo-hallucinations overviewed here indicate their richness of expression, their variable time course with illness stages and their variable response to medications prescribed for the bipolar condition.