Hallucinations vs. Delusions , & Confabulations

Hallucinations vs. Delusions in Alzheimer's from http://www.everydayhealth.com/alzheimers/alzheimers-hallucinations-and-delusions.aspx It is important that Alzheimer's caregivers understand the difference between a hallucination and a delusion. Each of these symptoms can affect your loved one in different ways:

Delusions. Delusions are false beliefs caused by the deterioration of cognitive processes in the brain of the Alzheimer's patient, and are often influenced by misunderstandings or misinterpretations. Patients might think they are being followed, or might accuse a family member of stealing from them or plotting against them.

Hallucinations. These involve false perceptions, and are also caused by changes in the brain due to Alzheimer's. Patients can literally “sense” — see, hear, smell, taste, or feel — something that isn't there. They might see and talk with old friends who aren't there, or watch ships floating through the sky outside the window, or smell foods they enjoyed as a child.

Confabulations are a major annoyance — when listeners take everything at face value, no matter how false their statements. The danger is when banks, adult protective services, police, friends, family, and other listeners take everything our loved ones say at face value and react based on the statements. Know that confabulating is distinct from lying because there is no intent to deceive. The statements can be coherent, internally consistent, and reasonable.

Be aware there are similarities between confabulation and delusions; e.g., both involve unintentional false statements. Realize delusions are frequently observed in Alzheimer’s patients may include beliefs about theft, the patient’s house not being his home, a spouse, is an impostor, belief an intruder is in the house, abandonment, spousal infidelity, and paranoia. visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation

Confabulating is distinct from lying because first there is no intent to deceive, second the person being unaware that the information is blatantly false. Confabulating can be coherent, internally consistent, and reasonable...despite clearly contradicting evidence. Your challenge: is what they say true?

we all Confabulate [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation]. We make..verbal statements and/or actions that inaccurately describe history, background and present situations... {Confabulating is distinct from lying because there is typically no intent to deceive...} being unaware that the information is false... blatantly false information can also be coherent, internally consistent, and relatively normal...despite evidence contradicting it...

IMHO we all Confabulate make..verbal statements and/or actions that inaccurately describe history, background and present situations... {is distinct from lying because there is typically no intent to deceive ...} the source is unaware that the information is false... Blatantly false information can also be coherent, internally consistent, and relatively normal...despite evidence contradicting it...