Sleep-Related Hallucinations.
Flavie Waters, Ivan Ling, Somayyeh Azimi, Jan Dirk Blom
Sleep medicine clinics March 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2023.10.008 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractSleep-related hallucinations are now classified separately from terrifying hypnagogic hallucinations. Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations occurring without other symptoms and within normal sleep are likely non-pathological. In contrast, complex nocturnal visual hallucinations may indicate psychopathology arising from different combinations of causes. This newer concept requires further research to determine whether it shares mechanisms with hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Dreaming |
| Keywords | Classification Dream-like experiences Hallucinations Hypnagogic |
| Key finding | Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations without other symptoms are likely non-pathological, while complex nocturnal visual hallucinations may reflect psychopathology. |
Abstract
The diagnostic category of sleep-related hallucinations (SRH) replaces the previous category of Terrifying Hypnagogic Hallucinations in the 2001 edition of International Classification of Sleep Disorders-R. Hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations (HHH) that occur in the absence of other symptoms or disorder and, within the limits of normal sleep, are most likely non-pathological. By contrast, complex nocturnal visual hallucinations (CNVH) may reflect a dimension of psychopathology reflecting different combinations of etiologic influences. The identification and conceptualization of CNVH is relatively new, and more research is needed to clarify whether CNVH share common mechanisms with HHH.