Medical Health Encyclopedia

Hallucinations

Common Causes:

There are numerous medical and psychiatric causes of hallucinations. Common causes include:

• Fever, which can occur with almost any infection, frequently produces hallucinations in children and the elderly
• Intoxication or withdrawal from such drugs as marijuana, LSD, cocaine or crack, heroin, and alcohol
• Delirium or dementia
• Sensory deprivation such as blindness or deafness
• Severe medical illness including liver failure, kidney failure, and brain cancer
• Some psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, psychotic depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder

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