Bipolar disorder involves experiencing mood episodes such as depression and mania. However, some people may also experience hallucinations. This is why.
Mania, hypomania, and depression are the formal symptoms of bipolar disorder. But, in some cases, people with bipolar disorder may also experience symptoms of psychosislike hallucinations.
Not everyone living with bipolar disorder experience hallucinations or other symptoms of psychosis.
But Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5the edition, text revised (DSM-5-TR)a booklet most US mental health professionals use to diagnose states that, in some cases, the condition may present “with psychotic features.”
Psychosis is a formal symptom of schizophrenia, but it can also appear in other conditions.
In this case, however, bipolar disorder with hallucinations is still bipolar disorder. These hallucinations are more likely to occur during intense mood episodes.
What causes bipolar hallucinations?
untreated Bipolar Disorder, which is associated with more recurrent mood episodes and more intense symptoms, it may play a role in hallucinations.
Hallucinations in bipolar disorder are a little studied symptom. Current research points to changes in the brain as a possible contributing factor.
In 2016, a small to study found that changes in neurons in brain areas responsible for assigning importance to experiences could lead to symptoms such as hallucinations.
Later a 2018 to study With a larger group of participants and the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), they identified structural changes in the brain that may be related to a history of auditory hallucinations in bipolar disorder. Auditory hallucinations refer to hearing things that others cannot.
Hallucinations in bipolar disorder with psychotic features are more common during manic episodes.
In fact, periods of hypomania — a milder form of mania — manifested by hallucinations, are clinically reclassified as manic episodes.
auditory hallucinations are the most common form of hallucinations experienced in psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other conditions.
However, a 2005 to study found that while auditory hallucinations were still the most common, visual hallucinations occurred more frequently in bipolar disorder than in disorders such as schizophrenia or depression.
If you live with bipolar disorder with psychotic features, you may also experience other types of hallucinations such as:
- olfactory (smell)
- gustatory (taste)
- touch (touch)
- somatic (internal bodily sensations)
Your mood and hallucinations.
When you experience a hallucination in bipolar disorder, the DSM-5-RT notes that it will be:
- congruent mood
- incongruous mood
Mood-congruent hallucinations align with how you feel.
If you feel overconfident, for example, you may have auditory hallucinations of people cheering you on.
Mood-incongruent hallucinations go against your current mood.
You may experience visual hallucinations from dropping your prize cupcakes, for example, even though your mood makes you feel like an invincible baker.
Hallucinations in bipolar disorder are often treated directly with medications known as antipsychotics.
Antipsychotics can help you control the symptoms of psychosis, but they are only one piece of the puzzle.
Treating bipolar disorder as a whole is often key to managing all symptoms.
Bipolar disorder treatment may involve:
If hallucinations are part of multiple symptoms of psychosis, you may benefit from coordinated specialty care (CSC), which involves multiple health professionals in a team effort to create an individual plan for your specific needs .
CSC plans can include all of the same programs as treatment for bipolar disorder, but can also include employment and social support to help you thrive in your everyday environment.
Hallucinations can be a symptom of bipolar disorder. When this happens, health professionals give the diagnosis of bipolar disorder with psychotic features.
While auditory forms remain the most common type of hallucinations, visual hallucinations in bipolar disorder occur more frequently than in other conditions.
Bipolar disorder is considered a progressive condition. Getting treatment early can help prevent your symptoms from getting worse and can lead to more positive long-term outcomes.
.
