Abstract

Studies have shown that hallucinations and delusions occur in a number of different populations including psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients and in non clinical (i.e. normal) individuals. However, the majority of these studies have included adult populations. The goal of the present article is to review the research on hallucinations and delusions in children and adolescents. The prevalence, characteristics and nature of hallucinations and delusions in both non clinical and clinical child and adolescent populations will be presented. In addition, a section on assessment strategies is included. Finally, the paper will conclude with a discussion of important issues and questions, including definitional issues, the predictive value of hallucinations and delusions, in addition to various clinical and theoretical implications.

Keywords: Hallucinations, delusions, development, childhood, adolescence