Hallucinations and causes

From: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/hallucinations.htm#possible

Hallucinations occur when a person believes that they experience something that does not physically exist. Hallucinations can be visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), or even affect the senses of touch or taste. Hallucinations are a serious symptom that needs prompt professional medical advice for diagnosis and treatment.

Some of the more common possible causes of hallucinations include:

• Drug intoxication
• LSD intoxication
• Marijuana intoxication
• Cannabis
• Psychotic disorder - see below.

Psychotic disorders - these are typified by hallucinations and/or delusions.

• Schizophrenia
• Schizotypal personality disorder
• Schizoid personality disorder
• Brief psychotic disorder
• Bipolar disorder - previously known as "manic-depressive disorder"
• Mania - if causing psychosis
• Drug-induced psychoses

Some of the less common possible causes of hallucinations include:

• Grief - will rarely cause hallucinations in very severe grief.
• Postpartum psychosis
• Korsakoff's psychosis
• Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder - causing flashbacks after use of hallucinogen drugs.

Alcohol abuses

• Alcohol poisoning (type of Poisoning)
• Delirium tremens
• Alcoholic hallucinosis

Physical medical conditions that may lead to hallucinations include:

• Extreme physical stress
• High fever (see Fever)
• Dehydration
• Extreme fatigue (see Fatigue)
• Kidney failure

Brain disorders

• Dementia - see causes of dementia
• Delirium - see causes of delirium
• Confusion
• Alzheimer's disease
• Stroke
• Migraine
• Brain tumor
• Seizures
• Temporal lobe epilepsy (type of Epilepsy) - sometimes hallucations of smell or taste.

Eye disorders - may cause various visual effects which might be described as visual hallucinations.

• Cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Retinal ischemia
• Optic nerve lesion

Sensory organ disorders - causing hallucinations of the various senses.

Certain medications