True Hallucinations in Non-Psychotic States *

Abstract

While hallucinations are known to occur as conversion symptoms in non-psychotic psychiatric states such as hysteria and grief, there is a lack of distinction between true and pseudo-hallucinations in such cases. We discuss the rationale which has necessitated this distinction, affirm that true hallucinations can occur in non-psychotic states, discuss the characteristics of such hallucinations, and postulate certain factors which may lead to hallucinations in non-psychotic states being judged as “true.”