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Samuel Sargeant

Department of English Literature and Creative Writing, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

1 paper in the library · 4 citations · publishing 2025

Papers

Visual hallucinations in psychosis: What do people actually see?

Psychology and psychotherapy March 1, 2025 Charlotte Aynsworth, Felicity Waite, Samuel Sargeant et al. 4 citations

Among people with psychosis, visions most often depict people who behave and appear real, making them indistinguishable from actual perception. In interviews with twelve participants, three key features emerged: the content of visions is typically people; these people act coherently, often speaking or touching the observer; and the visions possess a compelling authenticity. This combination explains why visions are so absorbing and distressing, and the framework of Content, Coherence, and Quality offers clinicians a practical way to explore these experiences.