When a young client experiences a hallucination by mistaking a linen sheet for a ghost, what is this condition called?

The situation described, where a young client mistakes a linen sheet for a ghost, is classified as an illusion. An illusion occurs when a real external stimulus is misperceived; in this case, the linen sheet is the actual object, but the client misinterprets it as something other than what it is—specifically, a ghost. Illusions are often based on sensory misinterpretations where the physical reality is present, but the perception is incorrect.

Hallucinations, in contrast, are perceptions that occur without any external stimulus; they involve seeing, hearing, or feeling something that isn't actually there. Delusions refer to strongly held false beliefs that are resistant to reasoning or confrontation with actual fact. Psychosis is a broader term for a mental state that involves a disconnection from reality, which can include both hallucinations and delusions but does not specifically define the nature of the misperception involved. Therefore, the correct identification of the scenario as an illusion highlights the importance of understanding how perceptions can distort reality in psychological contexts.