Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice
07:30

HSV-Mediated Transgene Expression of Chimeric Constructs to Study Behavioral Function of GPCR Heteromers in Mice

Published on: July 9, 2016

Qualitative changes in hallucinations

L J Miller1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois, Chicago 60612, USA.

The American Journal of Psychiatry
|February 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Inpatient psychiatric treatment can significantly alter hallucinations, making them less frequent and intense, even if they persist. This highlights important symptom changes beyond just presence or absence.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Hallucinations are a common symptom in various psychiatric disorders.
  • Understanding symptom changes is crucial for effective treatment evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify which characteristics of hallucinations change following inpatient psychiatric treatment.
  • To assess the impact of treatment on the nature of hallucinatory experiences.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 50 psychiatric inpatients experiencing hallucinations were interviewed.
  • Semistructured interviews were conducted at admission and before discharge.
  • Twelve specific characteristics of hallucinations were detailed.

Main Results:

  • 56% of patients continued to experience hallucinations post-treatment.
  • Hallucinations became significantly less frequent and less intense.
  • Hallucinations were less likely to provoke overt behavioral responses after treatment.
  • Most other hallucination characteristics remained stable.

Conclusions:

  • Inpatient treatment can modify hallucinations, even if not fully eliminated.
  • Assessing only the presence or absence of hallucinations may overlook crucial symptom improvements.
  • Hallucination changes support multifactorial theories of their origin and suggest a non-binary symptom presentation.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study07:30

Brain Morphology of Cannabis Users With or Without Psychosis: A Pilot MRI Study

Published on: August 18, 2020

Fine-Tuning Large Language Models Using Entity Hallucination Index for Text Summarization04:16

Fine-Tuning Large Language Models Using Entity Hallucination Index for Text Summarization

Published on: January 9, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Qualitative Analysis01:10

Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative analysis is the process of identifying elements, ions, or compounds in an unknown sample. It is the first and most fundamental type of analysis based on the hierarchy of analytical goals. This hierarchy is significant as it provides a structured approach to scientific research, with qualitative analysis serving as the initial step, providing essential information before moving on to quantitative or other forms of analysis.
There are two main approaches to qualitative analysis:...
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within the...
Schizophrenia01:17

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those diagnosed.
Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions01:26

Positive Symptoms Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by a range of symptoms that significantly impact cognition, behavior, and emotional regulation. Among these, the positive symptoms stand out as they involve the addition or exaggeration of normal mental functions, deviating markedly from typical behavior and perception. Hallucinations and delusions are prominent positive symptoms, each profoundly affecting the individual's experience of reality.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations in...
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions01:30

Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes loosely...