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​Hallucinogens are psychedelic drugs that can potentially change the way people see, hear, taste, smell or feel, and also affect mood and thought.

Official Name

​Hallucinogens

What is it?

Types of hallucinogens: LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, PCP, cannabis, ecstasy, ketamine, salvia and others.

The term hallucinogen refers to many different drugs, which are often called “psychedelic” drugs. While the effects of these drugs vary widely, all change the way people see, hear, taste, smell or feel, and affect mood and thought. At high doses, all may cause a person to hallucinate, or see, hear or feel things that aren’t really there.

Most of the hallucinogens used in North America belong to one of these six categories:

• indolealkylamines, which includes LSD (d-lysergic acid diethlyamide, a semi-synthetic substance originally derived from “ergot,” a fungus that grows on rye and other grains), LSA (d-lysergic amide, from morning glory seeds), psilocybin and psilocin (from Psilocybe mushrooms) and DMT (dimethyltryptamine, from the bark of the Virola tree, and other sources)
• phenylethylamines, which includes mescaline (found in peyote cactus), and “designer drugs” such as:
  • MDA (methylenedioxyamphetamine)
  • MDMA (ecstasy, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)
  • PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine)
  • 2-CB (4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine)
  • STP (2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine)
  • TMA (trimethoxyamphetamine).
• arylcycloalkylamines, such as PCP (phencyclidine) and ketamine
• cannabinoids, especially THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), found in marijuana, hash and hash oil
• anticholinergics, from the plant family Solanaceae, which includes deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna) and jimsonweed (Datura stramonium)
• the diterpene, salvinorin-A, from the plant Salvia divinorum.

Where does it come from?

Some hallucinogens come from mushrooms (psilocybin), cacti (mescaline) and other plants (cannabis, salvia). Of these, cannabis and psilocybin are almost always used in their natural form. Although LSD is used only in a synthesized form, a related drug, LSA, is found in nature. Other hallucinogens, such as MDMA and ketamine, are created in laboratories.

Who uses it?

Hallucinogens have been used since ancient times in religion, medicine, magic and prophecy. In the 1960s and 70s, hallucinogen use became a symbol of the counter-culture among young people in North America and Europe. In the 1990s, hallucinogen use was linked to the “rave” scene.

A 2007 survey of Ontario students in grades 7 to 12 reported that:

• 3.5 per cent had used ecstasy at least once in the past year
• 1.6 per cent had used LSD at least once in the past year
• 0.7 per cent had used PCP at least once in the past year
• 5. 5 per cent had used other hallucinogens (such as psilocybin and mescaline) at least once in the past year.

A 2004 survey of Canadians (aged 15+) reported that:

• 4.1 per cent had used ecstasy and 11.4 per cent had used LSD, PCP or other hallucinogens at least once in their lifetime
• 1.1 per cent had used ecstasy and 0.7 per cent had used LSD, PCP or other hallucinogens at least once in the past year.

How does it make you feel?

How hallucinogens make you feel depends on:

• how much you use
• how often and how long you use
• your mood, expectation and environment
• your age
• whether you have certain pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions
• whether you’ve taken any alcohol or other drugs (illegal, prescription, over-the-counter or herbal).

Hallucinogens cause mostly psychoactive, or mind-altering, effects, which can be mild to intense. These effects vary from drug to drug, from person to person, from one drug-taking episode to the next, and can even change dramatically within one time of use. Effects can range from ecstasy to terror, from mild distortion of the senses to full hallucinations (where people believe that drug-induced visions or other perceptions are real).

Different types of hallucinogens produce different effects; for example:

LSD produces a kaleidoscope of visual patterns and changes perception. People who take LSD usually know that the hallucinations are not real; however, the effects can appear real.

Ecstasy enhances mood and produces feelings of empathy and intimacy.

Ketamine causes an out-of-body feeling, which may be pleasant or terrifying.

Salvia causes intense, short-lived hallucinogenic effects, such as smelling sounds or hearing colours.

How long does the feeling last?

The effects of some hallucinogens, such as LSD, last for hours, while others, such as salvia, last only a short time.

Is it addictive?

Most people who use hallucinogens do so occasionally. Repeated use of hallucinogens such as LSD or ecstasy leads to tolerance, where the drug has reduced or no effect. Sensitivity to the drug returns if the person stops using it for a period of time, and then starts again. Stopping use of hallucinogens does not usually cause symptoms of withdrawal. However, people can develop psychological dependence, in which they feel they need the drug.

Is it dangerous?

Most of these drugs are illegal and unregulated, and may include toxins, or not even contain the drug they are sold as. For example, drugs sold as ecstasy are usually not pure MDMA, and have been found to contain other drugs, such as methamphetamine. Drugs sold as mescaline are almost always something else.

Hallucinogens affect perception and behaviour. Taking them may cause people to become disoriented, have poor judgment and take risks.

Many hallucinogens can have very unpleasant or toxic effects (e. g., jimsonweed, deadly nightshade). Hallucinogenic plants can be mistaken for other toxic or lethal plants, for example, mushrooms.

Although research is scarce, taking hallucinogens during pregnancy may affect the development of the baby, and increase the chance of miscarriage.

What are the long-term effects of using it?

Hallucinogen use may, on rare occasions, result in “flashbacks,” or replays of the drug experience, days, weeks or even years after the drug was taken. Some people who take hallucinogens feel depressed or anxious long after they took the drug.

Copyright © 2004, 2009 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

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Hallucinogens: Commonly Abused And Dangerous Drugs

Hallucinogens, while considered among the least addictive illicit drugs, can be fatally dangerous Psychoactive substances with a wide potential for abuse.

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Though Hallucinogens have a history of medicinal and spiritual use, today they are commonly abused for their Psychoactive effects. These substances, also known as Dissociatives, make up a diverse group of drugs that, though not chemically similar in most cases, produce similar alterations in perception, feeling, and experiences.

How Hallucinogens Work

The different plants and chemical compounds that make up the group of drugs known as Hallucinogens alter normal brain function by disrupting communication between chemical systems in the brain and spinal cord. Hallucinogens also hinder the release of serotonin (the chemical responsible for regulating mood, sleep, sensory perception, body temperature, sex drive, and muscle control). This is why many individuals who use Hallucinogens report increased feelings of euphoria, touch, and sexual pleasure. However, repeated use can train the brain to become dependent on a Hallucinogen for a release of serotonin, instead of the brain producing normal amounts on its own.

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Types Of Hallucinogens

Many Hallucinogens are Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act, meaning they have a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in the US. While Hallucinogen addiction and overdose are generally low, individuals may still become dependent on the effects these substances produce.

Some of the most common Hallucinogens include:

PCP

Phencyclidine (PCP) was originally developed in the 1950s as an Anesthetic for surgery. After it was later discovered to be a Dissociative Anesthetic, its medical use was discontinued in the 1960s. It produces an “out-of-body” experience but can also result in serious side effects. PCP can be found in liquid, powder, and white crystal forms and is often added to other illicit substances (e. g., Meth, LSD, and Marijuana) to enhance Psychedelic effects. Other names for PCP include Angel Dust, Hog, Love Boat, and Peace Pill.

LSD

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is an odorless, colorless substance known for its highly potent Psychedelic effects. Originally used as a therapeutic aid in the 1960s, it has largely been debunked as a clinical therapy aid today. LSD is most commonly abused by individuals in their late teens and early twenties. For the most part, LSD is consumed orally in powder, liquid, or pill form and produces mood-elevating “trips.” Some have reported acute anxiety and depressions after use due to LSD’s effect on the brain’s serotonin levels.

Other names for LSD include:

• Acid
• Blotter Acid
• Dots
• Mellow Yellow
• Window Pane
• Yellow Sunshine

Ketamine

Ketamine is a surgical Dissociative Anesthetic that also produces some Hallucinogenic effects. It is primarily an injectable, used widely by veterinarians, but can also come in powder or pill forms. Because Ketamine is a Sedative and induces immobility, relief from pain, and amnesia, it has also been used as a date rape drug. The onset of effects is quick (often occurring within a few minutes) and the hallucinations it produces last approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Sometimes a “bad trip” happens, leaving someone who is high on Ketamine in a terrifying state referred to as a “K-hole.” Common street names include Kit Kat, Special K, Super Acid, Super K, Vitamin K, and Special La Coke.

Mescaline

Mescaline is a Hallucinogenic compound that is the active ingredient in Peyote, a small, spineless cactus. It is traditionally used by Native Americans in spiritual rites central to the Native American Church. Though it has been suggested to be an effective treatment for depression and alcoholism, it remains a Schedule I substance. Abuse of Mescaline can cause illusions and hallucinations, altered perception of space and time, and altered body image. Peyote and Mescaline are also known as Buttons, Cactus, Mesc, and Peyoto.

Psilocybin

Psilocybin is a chemical compound contained in some Psychedelic Mushrooms native to Mexico, Central America, and the US. The so-called “Magic Mushrooms” are distinguished from the non-magical variety by their long, slender stems and caps with dark gills on the underside. They are generally ingested orally or brewed in tea to reduce the bitter flavor. Psilocybin can produce hallucinations, an inability to differentiate reality from fantasy, panic attacks, and psychosis if consumed in large doses. They are also known as Shrooms.

Bath Salts

Synthetic Cathinones, or “Bath Salts,” are man-made illicit substances known for their Stimulant and Hallucinogenic effects. Chemically, Bath Salts are related to the Khat plant, grown in East Africa and South Arabia. Its makeup varies with each lab that produces it, increasing its potential for fatal use. Bath Salts are usually a white or brown crystal-like powder, packaged with labels like “not for human consumption” to bypass federal regulations. They are sold legally as cheap substitutes for Stimulants like Meth and Cocaine because labs are able to reintroduce slightly-altered versions of the substance in quick succession and dodge law enforcement efforts.

Salvia Divinorum

Salvia Divinorum is a plant with Psychoactive properties that is native to Mexico and Central and South America. Also called Diviner’s Sage, Magic Mint, and Sage Of The Seers, this Hallucinogen distorts time and causes a feeling of flying. Unintended physical effects include dizziness, lack of coordination, chills, and nausea. Salvia Divinorum is legal in some states, decriminalized in others, and an illegal Schedule I substance in many states as well.

DMT

DMT, or Dimethyltryptamine, is a Hallucinogen found in some plants as well as inside the brains, blood, and urine of mammals. Those seeking to experience the effects of the compound commonly use an Amazonian brew called Ayahuasca. DMT can also be smoked, injected, or consumed orally to produce intense hallucinations (including “true” hallucinations, involving total departures from reality) and euphoria. It is a Schedule I drug in the US and is also referred to as Dimitri.

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GHB

Officially known as Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid, this Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressant can be found naturally in human cells. GHB is synthesized for the effects of euphoria, decreased inhibitions, sleepiness, disorientation, loss of coordination, and decreased heart rate it produces. It is sold as a liquid or as a white powder commonly dissolved in a liquid like juice or alcohol. Xyrem is the FDA-approved prescription name, but it is also called Roofies, Easy Lay, Georgia Home Boy, Goop, Scoop, Grievous Bodily Harm, and Liquid Ecstasy.

Effects Of Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens interfere with a normal-functioning brain by prematurely flooding the brain with serotonin (the neurotransmitter responsible for mood regulation, sensory perception, sleep cycles, hunger, body temperature, sex drive, and muscle control). This excess of serotonin can cause the body to develop a dependence on the Hallucinogen. The abuse of Hallucinogens can leave the body unable to produce adequate amounts of serotonin on its own.

The short-term effects of Hallucinogens can include:

• Hallucinations
• Fluctuations in heart rate
• Intense feelings and sensory feedback
• Feelings of distorted time
• Dry mouth
• Anxiety or paranoia

The extended abuse of some Hallucinogens may produce a variety of long-term effects, including:

• Speech problems and memory loss from repeated PCP use
• Bladder ulcers and kidney problems from Ketamine use
• Paranoia
• Visual disturbances
• Mental problems
• Flashbacks

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Abuse Of Hallucinogens

Evidence has suggested that some Hallucinogens can be addictive when used repeatedly because individuals can develop a tolerance to their effects. As a result, some must use more of a given substance to produce the same effects. For example, LSD is not considered to be addictive, but people may need to take increasing amounts of it each time to get the same “high.” People may also develop an addiction to PCP after prolonged abuse. Withdrawal from PCP may produce drug cravings, headaches, and sweating. Detox from any Hallucinogen is not something that should be done alone.

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Find Treatment For A Hallucinogen Addiction

Currently, there are no government-approved medications to treat a Hallucinogen addiction. Behavioral therapy in particular may benefit individuals seeking recovery from Hallucinogens. Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers are also available to treat a variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders. If you need help finding the right treatment center, contact a dedicated recovery provider now, and start your journey to sobriety.

Treatment of hallucinations in schizophrenia and other disorders of the nervous system

cholinergic neurotransmission, increased dopamine synthesis and deafferentation), on which further tactics of patient management depend. In another earlier article published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin, the same authors explore the evidence base for treatments for hallucinations in schizophrenia and other mental and neurological disorders. This article is more focused on clinical practice, thereby organically supplementing the latter, which to a greater extent considers precisely the fundamental aspects of hallucinations and the psychopharmacological effects on them. Below are the main points of the article “The Treatment of Hallucinations in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders”.

Hallucinations can occur in the context of many disorders and syndromes. Therefore, the choice of treatment tactics depends not only on the type of perceptual delusions and the impact on daily functioning, but also on the underlying disorder. At times, it can be very difficult to identify the underlying disorder because hallucinations, such as those in borderline personality disorder, psychotic depression, or temporal lobe epilepsy, may be indistinguishable from hallucinations in schizophrenia on a phenomenological level.

Associated symptoms such as paroxysmal activity, motor symptoms of parkinsonism, loss of vision or hearing are the most reliable signs used in the differential diagnosis. Some people who hallucinate only sporadically may simply be concerned that their experience is a sign of a mental disorder, without being concerned about the hallucinations themselves. For others, the burden of hallucinations cannot outweigh the side effects of their treatment. As a result, treatment may not be applicable in all cases. This article will look at some of the errors that are often associated with hallucinations, as well as specific treatment options for them.

Schizophrenia can be accompanied by hallucinations in any sensory modality. In 70% of cases, they are auditory in nature, and in 50% of cases, visual hallucinations are observed. Other types of hallucinations are less common.

Antipsychotics are known to be the only type of medication successfully used to treat hallucinations in schizophrenia. Only 8% of patients with a first psychotic episode still experience hallucinations after 1 year of treatment. However, no clinical studies have yet been published comparing the efficacy of various antipsychotic drugs for the single and specific indication of hallucinations. Therefore, data from the European First Psychotic Episode Study, which evaluated the effectiveness of 5 antipsychotic drugs in the treatment of hallucinations, were used for analysis. Olanzapine, amisulpride, ziprasidone, and quetiapine were found to be equally effective against hallucinations; haloperidol, according to the authors of the study, cannot be the drug of first choice.

If the first choice drug does not improve, it is best to switch to another drug after 2-4 weeks of treatment. Clozapine is the drug of choice for patients who are resistant to two adequate courses of antipsychotics. To prevent relapse, treatment should be continued with the same antipsychotic and preferably at the same dose. Long-acting forms should be considered for all patients because the risk of non-compliance is very high.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be used in addition to antipsychotic therapy. CBT is aimed at reducing the emotional stress associated with auditory hallucinations, it teaches the patient to ignore the “voices” and focus on future plans and goals, which affects the quality of life of patients. However, CBT has no effect on the frequency of hallucinations.

On the other hand, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can reduce the frequency and severity of auditory hallucinations. Several meta-analyses have demonstrated efficacy for low-frequency repetitive TMS in the left temporoparietal region compared to placebo. As a consequence, TMS currently has the status of a potentially useful treatment for auditory hallucinations, but only in combination with modern antipsychotic therapy.

Several guidelines mention electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as the last step in the treatment of resistant psychoses in schizophrenia. Although several studies have shown clinical improvement after ECT use, a specific reduction in the severity of hallucinations has never been assessed at the group level.

Delirium is an acute neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions in the presence of reduced attention, fluctuating consciousness and other cognitive functions. This condition is very common in patients admitted to intensive care units, with an incidence of 32%, and is markedly associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality.

The only etiological treatment for delirium is to improve the patient’s physical condition. Symptomatic treatment of hallucinations and other symptoms of delirium should begin with measures aimed at normalizing the circadian rhythm and orientation of the patient. Pharmacological treatment should preferably consist of haloperidol or olanzapine, as recommended in the latest NICE guidelines. Although benzodiazepines are widely used for the treatment of delirium, their use is recommended only for alcoholic delirium. Cholinesterase inhibitors are not recommended, as evidenced by a randomized clinical trial of rivastigmine in patients with delirium admitted to the intensive care unit. This study was terminated at an early stage due to a significant increase in mortality and duration of delirium compared with the control group.

The prevalence of hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms among patients with PD is 80%. In the case of Lewy body dementia, pathogenetically closely associated with PD, these figures are even higher, especially for visual hallucinations. Auditory hallucinations are present in 20% of cases.

The pathophysiology of psychosis in PD and Lewy body dementia involves a complex interplay of extrinsic and disease-related factors, including central dopaminergic activity, imbalance of the dopaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter systems, dysfunction of the visual pathways, alterations in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle, and weakened focus. However, the most important external factor in the development of hallucinations in the context of PD is drug treatment.

Treatment strategies: Decrease antiparkinsonian medications, increase low-dose “atypical” antipsychotics, and possibly cholinesterase inhibitors. Eng and Welty reviewed 13 studies of antipsychotic treatment in patients with PD and concluded that long-term therapy with clozapine is indeed effective, while the results of studies on the use of quetiapine are inconsistent. Only one double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 188 patients with PD and hallucinations confirms the effectiveness of the cholinesterase inhibitor rivastigmine. Thus, although the use of cholinesterase inhibitors, especially rivastigmine, appears to be a promising treatment for hallucinations in PD, the studies cited support the use of clozapine alone.

In AD, the occurrence of psychosis in 30-50% of cases has serious consequences for both patients and caregivers. Cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil may have a beneficial effect on hallucinations with a relatively mild side effect profile. Another study on the treatment of psychosis in asthma examined the efficacy of olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, and placebo for 36 weeks. The results showed that risperidone was more effective than the other two drugs and placebo. However, these drugs should be taken with caution due to the increased risk of complications in elderly patients.

As a consequence, antipsychotics are strongly discouraged as the first choice for treating psychotic symptoms in AD. Extrapyramidal symptoms and arrhythmias due to QT interval prolongation are frequent complications of “typical” antipsychotic drugs, while various cerebrovascular pathologies occur more often with the use of “atypical” antipsychotics. However, these drugs should be used when the severity of symptoms is extreme or when symptoms do not respond to other types of drugs or non-pharmacological interventions.

The reported incidence of hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms in epilepsy is 3.3%, and in temporal lobe epilepsy it is as high as 14%. Hallucinations may occur shortly before (aura), during, or after an epileptic seizure, but often occur independently of any motor seizures. Often the hallucinations resemble those that occur in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and are referred to as “schizophrenic psychoses of epilepsy”.

Treatment of hallucinations should primarily involve the minimization of any drug that may mediate these symptoms. Various antiepileptic drugs such as phenobarbital, zonisamide, levetiracetam and gabapentin are known to induce hallucinations. In such cases, reducing the dose or switching to another antiepileptic drug can lead to a relatively rapid relief of hallucinations.

When antiepileptic drugs cannot be reduced or discontinued, antipsychotics are the drugs of choice. Clozapine and chlorpromazine should be avoided due to their epileptogenic properties, while quetiapine, risperidone and haloperidol are generally well tolerated.

Visually impaired patients may experience complex visual hallucinations, a condition known as Charles Bonnet syndrome. Similarly, people with progressive hearing loss may develop auditory hallucinations in the form of music, voices, or other sounds.

It is believed that such hallucinations are actually phenomena due to deafferentation of areas of the visual or auditory association cortex, which can lead to so-called “phantom perceptions”. Cognitive defects and social isolation may act as additional risk factors.

Patients who understand their unrealistic nature tend to suffer less from them, although they may still be distressed by the fear of “inevitable madness”. The assurance and explanation that visual or auditory misperceptions do not imply any mental disorder can have a powerful therapeutic effect.

According to the authors, psychotropic treatment is not always necessary, since the relief of hallucinations may stop either spontaneously or after the end of social isolation. The first choice treatment is to restore vision or hearing, for example by cataract surgery, ear cleaning or hearing aids.

When such interventions have failed, pharmacological treatment may be considered, although the benefits of treatment may not always outweigh the disadvantages of side effects. Although antipsychotics, antiepileptics, and cholinesterase inhibitors have previously been reported to be effective in these cases, there are currently no randomized trials of these types of drugs in patients with sensory deaferentation hallucinations. If pharmacological treatment is deemed necessary, quetiapine or lamotrigine may be considered as the drugs of choice. TMS has also been used for this type of hallucination, but results are still inconclusive.

The material was prepared as part of the ProSchizophrenia project, a specialized section of the official website of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists dedicated to schizophrenia, modern approaches to its diagnosis and treatment.

Prepared by: Kasyanov E.D.

Source: Sommer I. et al The Treatment of Hallucinations in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders. Schizophrenia Bulletin, Volume 38, Issue 4, 18 June 2012, Pages 704–714, https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbs034

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What household causes can cause hallucinations

Coffee, sleep deprivation, antibiotics, and increased predictive ability can all cause hallucinations. The science department of Gazeta.Ru explains why you should not panic if you see a mysterious image or hear strange noises.

According to the WHO, one in five people in the world suffers from various mental disorders. However, most healthy people also experienced symptoms that are characteristic of a particular neurological disease. These symptoms also include hallucinations – images that arise in the mind without the influence of an external stimulus. Hallucinations are not only visual: for example, visceral hallucinations are the sensation of a foreign object or a living organism under the skin or in the body.

Treating or maiming?

The occurrence of hallucinations in healthy people is associated not only with the consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs. A group of scientists from Harvard Medical School and the Brigham Women’s Clinic in Boston conducted a study in which it turned out that there is an association between taking antibiotics and delusional disorders .

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Neurological problems have been previously reported in some cases of antibiotic use, but little research has been done on this issue. The elderly are believed to be at risk of developing cognitive impairment as a result of taking such drugs:

2-12% of cases of insanity or dementia were caused by the toxic effects of drugs.

Study published in Neurology , included an analysis of the medical records of 391 patients who, after taking antibiotics, had symptoms of delirium – a mental disorder, the course of which is accompanied by delirium, hallucinations, disorientation in time and space. The study looked at 54 types of drugs in 12 classes, including cefepime and penicillin.

47% of patients had hallucinations and delusions, another 14% had convulsions, 15% had muscle twitches, and 5% lost control of their movements.

Scientists have classified a person’s response to an antibiotic into three categories. The first category is characterized by convulsions accompanying the use of penicillin and cephalosporin. In this case, the symptoms disappear within two days after the end of treatment. The second group of people were susceptible to psychosis as a result of taking drugs such as penicillin procaine, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones and macrolides. The third category includes anomalies on electroencephalography, impaired coordination of movements and other neurological problems caused by taking metronidazole. Unlike the first two categories, the symptoms of the latter did not go away for several weeks after stopping the medication.

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The authors of the paper suggested that delusional disorders could be caused by the infection itself, and not by the antibiotics that fight it. However, if the disease did not affect the central nervous system, the cause of hallucinations and other symptoms lay in the drugs. Dr. Bhattacharya, who led the study, explained: “Antibiotics not only react against bacteria, but can also have a damaging effect on brain function. Different medications can cause different abnormalities.”

In medical practice, there are also cases when mental disorders were caused by analgesics. So, after taking a codeine-containing drug, a fourteen-year-old girl complained of drowsiness and loss of concentration.

Moreover, she experienced hallucinations and memory loss. Doctors found no other cause for the symptoms than an overdose of codeine.

Lack of sleep and coffee will lead to visions

Scientists have also found that everyday causes can also affect the occurrence of mental disorders. For example, staff at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland proved that lack of sleep can also cause hallucinations and delusions. In the course of the experiment, 122 ICU patients were regularly checked using the Confusion Diagnostic Method to screen for delirium. The researchers consistently improved their sleep conditions: first, they stopped the procedure of nocturnal blood sampling, then offered the participants in the experiment earplugs and sleep masks, and stopped giving medications before bed. As a result, all patients showed a decrease in delirium symptoms.

Another hallucinatory activity that many people do regularly is drinking coffee. Many people drink several cups of coffee a day without thinking, and even two cups, according to studies, can cause anxiety, nausea, headaches, sleep disturbances and arrhythmias.

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Doses of more than 750 mg of caffeine lead to more serious effects, including delirium, ringing in the ears, and hallucinations in the form of light flashes.

Are you hallucinating? This is fine!

However, despite the frightening abundance of factors that cause hallucinations, people have no reason to worry. Scientists came to the conclusion that visual and sound hallucinations can also occur in absolutely healthy people. A study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry suggests that 5% of people at least once in their lives saw non-existent objects or heard imaginary sounds, while no deviations in their psyche were noticed. The researchers clarify that a third of those who have experienced hallucinations have experienced it only once in their lives, another third – from two to five times.

Auditory hallucinations were found to be more common among women, and people in developed countries experience both types of hallucinations more frequently than people in developing countries.

In addition, scientists have found that hallucinations occur due to the fact that the brain of some people has an increased ability to draw conclusions from the available visual information and predict the situation.