Hallucinosis (syn. hallucinatory syndrome) is a pathological condition that is characterized by the appearance of hallucinations in a person. It is considered noteworthy that the patient’s consciousness is preserved and does not change.

Hallucination develops due to the fact that actual impressions in a person’s mind are replaced by internal images. A person experiencing hallucinatory experiences is not making them up or imagining them. He sees, hears or feels them. To him they represent true perception.

Variants of the syndrome according to the type of deception of feelings

Verbal hallucinosis occurs suddenly in the form of a monologue or dialogue. There are commentary, imperative (imperative) hallucinosis. Under the influence of hallucinations, patients may perform certain incorrect, often aggressive, actions towards themselves or others. Verbal hallucinosis is often worse in the evening and at night.

Visual hallucinosis. True visual hallucinosis is not accompanied by disorders of consciousness and is quite rare.

Peduncular visual hallucinosis develops when the pathological process is localized in the cerebral peduncles. A peculiarity of such hallucinosis is the appearance in the twilight of numerous moving visual visions in the form of figures of people, animals, and scene-like paintings. A critical attitude towards this type of disorder remains.

Van Bogart visual hallucinosis is characterized by vivid visual hallucinations in the form of butterflies, birds, and fish. Hallucinations develop after 1 to 2 weeks of increased sleepiness, which can result in narcolepsy. Described in encephalitis.

Gobek's olfactory hallucinosis manifests itself in the fact that the patient perceives bad odors supposedly emanating from his body, sometimes combined with tactile hallucinations and ideas of relation.

Tactile hallucinosis. Sensation of worms, insects, microbes crawling on or under the skin. Usually the sensations are accompanied by an extremely unpleasant, painful feeling, itching, and anxiety.

Treatment

Help is provided in an inpatient drug treatment clinic.
Diagnosis is carried out by a doctor and after identifying specific signs of the disease, therapy is prescribed. The treatment plan includes:

• Detoxification.
• Normalization of the functioning of internal organs.
• Relieving psychotic symptoms.
• Prevention of mnestic disorders.
• Prevention and rehabilitation.

Detox is carried out over a long period of time with small infusion volumes.

Dropper compositions include:

• Isotonic solution and electrolytes in the composition of the preparations: disol, trisol. They are required to restore electrolyte balance, replenish fluid lost by the body and dilute other drugs.
• 5% glucose. With its help, the insufficient energy supply to the myocardium, characteristic of chronic alcohol poisoning, is eliminated.
• Plasma substitutes – polyglucin, rheopolyglucin.
• Detoxifying agents: unithiol, sodium thiosulfate.
• Solutions that include ingredients for blood purification and have antihypoxic and antioxidant properties: reamberin, mafusol, reosorbilact.

Since most patients suffering from alcoholic hallucinosis have multiple chronic pathologies, they are prescribed additional treatment.

It includes:

• Vitamin therapy.
• Heart support with cardioprotectors.
• Improved diuresis with diuretics.
• Normalization and stabilization of blood pressure with antihypertensive drugs.
• Restoring the cognitive capabilities of the brain with the participation of nootropics.
• Liver protection with hepatoprotectors.
• Metabolic therapy that improves metabolic processes in all tissues and organs of the patient.

Hallucinatory and delusional symptoms, phobias, depression and other disorders are relieved with psychotropic medications.

For this use:

• Neuroleptics.
• Tranquilizers.
• Antidepressants.

The drugs are prescribed both parenterally (injections) and in tablets.

The healing process depends on:

• age of the patient.
• drinking experience.
• stages of alcoholism.

In general, the prognosis for quitting alcohol and properly selected therapy is favorable. After treatment, if the client is mentally intact and there is no significant personality degradation, it is recommended to undergo coding and, if possible, recovery in a rehabilitation center. These measures will prevent relapse and return to normal life.

Reasons and features

Alcoholic hallucinosis is understood as a pronounced and severe psychosis that occurs against the background of constant consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The key symptom of the disease is hallucinations. In this case, the person hears unusual things. However, the patient remains lucid, understanding where he is. Even with the appearance of such hallucinations, a person can perfectly navigate in space.

Most often, the pathology develops quickly, especially when a feeling of persecution appears. In this case, a person experiences a feeling of panic, fear, and anxiety.

At the peak of emotions, the patient may attempt to commit suicide or cause serious harm to others. This is explained by fear for one's life.

The person appears to be absolutely healthy. Even during an attack, he is aware of the actions being performed. Therefore, not every doctor will be able to identify hallucinosis in time. From the outside it seems that the person is simply intoxicated.

It is worth considering that this disorder does not allow a person to remain in a good mood after drinking alcohol. The first symptoms of aggression should serve as an alarming signal for people around you.

Alcohol hallucinations appear for the following reasons:

• Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Constant change of alcoholic drinks;
• Drinking low-quality drinks that have a negative effect on the psyche;
• Drinking alcohol in the morning during a hangover;
• Drinking alcohol multiple times throughout the day.

Drinking alcoholic beverages of poor quality has a detrimental effect on the body and mental state of a person.

This means that the development of alcoholic hallucinosis is caused by frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages. To avoid this disorder, you need to give up alcohol or reduce its amount.

Atypical acute hallucinosis

Such hallucinations in alcoholism can have different development options. Each form is characterized by certain manifestations.

Oneiroid is a mental disorder in which real and imaginary events intertwine in the patient’s head. A person experiences a loss of identification; he feels like a participant in unreal events.

The main symptoms of the pathology include anxiety attacks. Then auditory hallucinations arise, which transform into powerful delusions. An alcoholic imagines unrealistic stories - cataclysms or alien travel.

This disorder is characterized by a state of alcoholic stupor - immobility. This form of pathology is diagnosed very rarely.

Hallucinosis with stuporous disorders is characterized by alcoholic stupor, which is diagnosed quite rarely

The state of stupor against the background of complex alcoholism does not arise immediately. It appears only at the peak of psychosis. At this moment, the patient freezes in place and practically does not react to others. Sometimes a combination of stupor and oneiric seizures is observed. This condition may be present from 2 minutes to several hours.

In this case, it seems to the patient that his thoughts and emotions are imposed on him by some external forces. Like other atypical syndromes, automatisms appear at the peak of hallucinosis.

This condition may be accompanied by symptoms of oneiroid and delirium. The person also experiences active delirium. These symptoms increase in the evening and at night. In the acute form of the disease, a person develops open-mindedness syndrome. It seems to him that all his thoughts are known to others.

Clinical picture

Pathology has the following manifestations:

• Mental disorders after drinking alcohol;
• Constant feeling of fear and increased anxiety;
• Feeling of insecurity;
• Severe irritability;
• Aggression towards loved ones;
• The appearance of visual or auditory hallucinations.

We suggest you read: How to remove the body from alcohol intoxication

There are many different types of alcoholic hallucinosis. Depending on the symptoms present, classic, atypical, mixed and reduced forms of the disease are distinguished.

Reduced acute hallucinosis

This category includes several types of pathology - classical, acute abortive or hypnagogic.

This is the mildest form of the disease, which occurs during a severe hangover. The first signs of the development of psychosis are characteristic of all alcohol disorders. A person develops a feeling of confusion, causeless anxiety arises, which over time turns into fear and horror.

Hallucinations from alcohol appear before sleep. They can also occur during a sleepless night. Initially, a person experiences acoasms - the simplest and most fragmentary hallucinations. This could be knocking, hissing, shots, etc. Sometimes the patient hears individual words or phrases.

Usually people understand what the source of sound is. This condition is accompanied by intense fear. To cope with an attack, it is enough to get a good night's sleep. The next morning all symptoms will disappear.

Acute abortifacient

This form of disorder is characterized by mood problems. The person experiences depression, severe melancholy and increased anxiety. Then a feeling of fear appears and psychomotor agitation develops.

After this, auditory hallucinations occur. First, a person hears neutral sounds - these can be knocks, rustles or words. Then the hallucinations become more complex, acquiring a polyvocal character.

Unknown voices talk to the alcoholic, may accuse him of various offenses or make some demands. Acute alcoholic hallucinosis lasts several days. Deep sleep helps to get out of this state. Without adequate therapy, there is a risk of developing full-blown alcoholic psychosis.

Classical

Before the onset of this form of the disease, a painful hangover is observed. It is combined with anxiety and paranoia. Women may experience depression. Psychosis can be caused by prolonged binge drinking, especially when combined with severe insomnia.

Classic psychosis is always characterized by affective disorders. They manifest themselves in the form of melancholy, severe anxiety, and panic attacks. A person hears various sounds, which are followed by the appearance of delusional thoughts.

In most cases, auditory hallucinations after binge drinking occur in the evenings. They can also appear on sleepless nights. At first, a person hears individual sounds, but then a monologue begins, which is replaced by dialogue. Imaginary voices constantly argue, shout, and swear.

Then the stage of classic alcoholic delirium begins. A person thinks that someone is following him. All delusions have a logical connection with what the patient hears. This state is fragmentary in nature. The attack lasts from 2 days to 3-4 weeks. Symptoms of hallucinosis disappear after a long, full sleep.