What distinguishes a delusion from a hallucination in a psychotic episode?

A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not based in reality and is resistant to change even when presented with contradictory evidence. It's a thought or conviction that the person strongly holds, even if it's demonstrably untrue. For example, a person might believe they are a famous historical figure or that others are plotting against them, despite evidence to the contrary. A hallucination, on the other hand, is a sensory experience that occurs in the absence of an external stimulus. It involves seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling something that isn't actually there. For instance, a person might hear voices when no one is speaking or see objects that are not present. Therefore, the key distinction is that a delusion is a false belief, whereas a hallucination is a false sensory experience. Delusions involve a disturbance in thought content, while hallucinations involve a disturbance in perception.