Hallucinations in Psychotic Children

Psychotic inpatient children from 6 to 15 years of age (N-331) were studied for the incidence, type, and content of hallucinations and age, sex, and reality relationships. The data were computerized and analyzed. Forty-eight percent of the total sample had hallucinations, with auditory type being the most frequent followed by mixed auditory and visual types. Younger children had a higher incidence than older children and there was no sexual difference at any age level. The statistical analysis of the data, content of the hallucinations, and psychodynamic significance are described.