pseudohallucination

Pseudohallucinations are a type of perceptual disturbance where an individual experiences sensory perceptions that seem to originate from an external source but are not objectively real. These are distinct from true hallucinations, which lack any external stimulus. Pseudohallucinations can arise from psychological factors, such as intense anxiety or fear, leading to misinterpretations of external stimuli. For example, a child might perceive shadows as monsters, or a fearful soldier might mistake inanimate objects for enemies.1

While not necessarily indicative of a psychiatric disorder, pseudohallucinations can be associated with conditions like psychosis, where a disturbed sense of reality and cognitive disorganization are present. The term "pseudohallucinatory" describes something characterized by or tending to produce these types of experiences.23