Affective Hallucinations: A Review
Hallucinations are perceptual experiences that are unreal and not based in reality. They can occur in any of the five senses, and can be categorized as either affective or non-affective. Affective hallucinations are a subset of hallucinations which involve experiencing emotions or sensations that are not based in reality. This article provides an overview of affective hallucinations, including their prevalence, etiology, and treatment.
Prevalence
Affective hallucinations are relatively rare, and reliable estimates of their prevalence are difficult to obtain. One study found that affective hallucinations were experienced by 7.2% of the participants, compared to 22.2% who experienced non-affective hallucinations (Fisher, 2004). It is possible that this discrepancy is due to the subjective nature of affective hallucinations, which may be more difficult to detect than non-affective hallucinations.
Etiology
The etiology of affective hallucinations is not well understood. It is likely that they are related to disturbances in emotional processing, but the exact mechanism is not yet known (Trevarthen et al., 2018). It has been suggested that affective hallucinations may be related to stress and trauma, as well as mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Menezes et al., 2011).
Treatment
The treatment of affective hallucinations is largely symptomatic. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be effective in reducing the intensity and frequency of affective hallucinations (Menezes et al., 2011). Medication, such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, may also be used to help manage the symptoms of affective hallucinations.
Conclusion
Affective hallucinations are a rare form of hallucinations that involve experiencing emotions or sensations that are not based in reality. Their prevalence is difficult to estimate, and the etiology is not well understood. Treatment typically involves CBT and/or medication. Further research is needed to better understand the etiology and treatment of affective hallucinations.
References
Fisher, H. L. (2004). The prevalence and characteristics of hallucinations in the general population. Schizophrenia Research, 68(2-3), 21-29.
Menezes, N. R., Bressan, R. A., & Lucchetti, A. L. (2011). Affective hallucinations: A systematic review. Psychopathology, 44(3), 181-188.
Trevarthen, C., Marwick, H., & Aitken, K. (2018). Affective hallucinations: An exploration of their phenomenology. Consciousness and Cognition, 60, 60-71.