What are Bipolar Hallucinations?

Bipolar hallucinations are hallucinations experienced by people with bipolar disorder. By definition, they are only present in patients with bipolar I, and not everyone with this condition will develop hallucinations. In patients who experience them, clinical treatment can include medications like lithium, along with psychotherapy. For some patients, hallucinations can be a warning sign of a manic episode, as they may occur before patients enter a manic state.

Sensory hallucinations can take a number of forms and they vary from patient to patient. Patients with bipolar hallucinations may see, hear, smell, feel, or taste things that do not actually exist. In some patients, the hallucinations are accompanied by a break with reality and they may not realize they are hallucinating. In others, they are clearly recognizable as hallucinations and this may be traumatic or upsetting for the patient.

Hallucinations are observed in cases of bipolar I where the patient experiences psychosis during manic episodes. The diagnostic process for mental illnesses like bipolar disorder is complex and can require hours of evaluation to exclude similar diagnoses. Patients with psychosis must be evaluated for conditions like schizophrenia before they are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, as the treatment for these conditions is different and it is important to get an accurate diagnosis when developing a treatment plan.

Patients can manage bipolar hallucinations in a variety of ways. For patients who choose to control the condition with medication, symptoms like hallucinations often resolve. In patients who do not use medications or who experience recurrence of symptoms, some people may attempt to interact with the hallucinations, while others may use them as a warning sign that their bipolar disorder is increasing in severity. Other patients attempt to ignore hallucinations or work to learn to differentiate between hallucinations and reality.

Patients with bipolar hallucinations may discuss the sensory experiences with caregivers, friends, and family. Some people find hallucinations less frightening when they talk about them and patients who have trouble differentiating between bipolar hallucinations and reality might ask people for verification about a sensory experience.

In people with undiagnosed mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, hallucinations can be an important diagnostic sign for clinicians. People who start to experience abnormal sensations or other signs of mental illness may want to consider evaluation by a psychologist or physician; in addition to being signs of mental illness, hallucinations can also indicate an underlying neurological problem, such as a tumor or a degenerative disease.