What is the term for experiencing sensations that are not actually present?

The term that refers to experiencing sensations that do not actually exist is hallucinations. Hallucinations can involve any of the senses — auditory, visual, olfactory, gustatory, or tactile — and are perceived as very real by the individual, even though they stem from a disturbance in perception rather than an actual external stimulus.

Understanding this concept is essential in psychiatric practice, as hallucinations are often prominent features in various mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia or severe mood disorders, and require specific intervention strategies.

In contrast, delusions involve false beliefs that are strongly held despite clear evidence to the contrary, and while they may accompany hallucinations, they are fundamentally different in nature. Illusions are misinterpretations of real stimuli; for example, seeing a shadow and believing it to be a person. Derealization describes a feeling of detachment or unreality about one's surroundings and does not pertain to sensory experiences that are fabricated.