Dementia – Hallucinations

Delusions and Hallucinations are often seen by people who are either stimulating drugs and by people who have a mental illness like Schizophrenia. However, delusions and hallucinations are also frequently seen in Dementia syndrome. One type of Dementia where hallucinations are frequently seen is Lewy Body dementia (L.B.D.).

In Lewy Body dementia (L.D.B), there are strange cell-bodies in the brain that are called Lewy bodies. These cells will interfere with normal cognitive functioning and cause a variety of symptoms. One of those symptoms is losing reality. They often see visual hallucinations that could either be very threatening or very confusing. Hallucinations are also seen in dementia types like Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. These hallucinations differ from the ones in L.B.D. and are also more surreal.

Medication is often the only thing that could help against the hallucinations. However, when there is need of medication it is important to know what type of dementia the person has. Haldol is very often the ‘drug of choice’ against delusions and hallucinations and it works very well in Alzheimer and vascular dementia. However, it will not work in L.B.D. It will have the opposite effect as the haldol will not give relief of the complaints, but make it worse.

Although medication woks very well against hallucinations in Dementia. It is very important to know what type of dementia is diagnosed before giving the medication. When there are doubts, consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist is the first thing to do.

By: Alex Mayor

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