Schizophrenia is a thought disorder, Bipolar is a mood disorder. Schizophrenia is mostly characterised by psychosis and features like hallucinations and delusions. Bipolar is characterised by changes in mood which can either result in Mania or Depression (hence named Bi-polar) Treatment for schizophrenia is Antipsychotics Treatment for bipolar is Mood stabilisers. However both are chronic illnesses and require long term treatment.

Hi, Schizophrenia (Broad Category) is a combination of false perception (hallucinations) and false unshakable beliefs. Bipolar Disorder is one of the mood disorders where the emotions are difficult to manage and can be unpredictable.(Mood swings) Schizoaffective Disorder means having both. To answer your second question, Hallucinations are not necessary to diagnose one with Schizophrenia. If Delusions are there along with other symptoms like Emotional Withdrawl, Blunt affect, Social Withdrawl etc. It is enough.

Hello Mr. --Hallucination is a disorder of perception . In      the absence of any external stimulus person    still  able to sense stimulus through sensory     organs ( Ears , Eyes , Nose, Tongue , skin). -- If he/she sense:           Voice : Auditory hallucination                    Images : visual hallucination                Smell : olfactory hallucination           Taste : Gustatory hallucination           Touch : Tactile hallucination -- Others are : Reflex , functional , autoscopy      etc. -- Hallucination can be a normal psychological     process in the form of hyonogogic and     hyonopompic hallucination that occur during     initiation or termination of sleep. -- Now ,I hope one thing you understood    HALLUCINATION is not simple to understand    and confirm. As they can be seen not only in     schizophrenia but also : *  Head injury *  Delirium *  Dementia *  Any Substance abuse/ withdrawal *  Schizophrenia spectrum disorder *  Mood disorder ( mania, depression or mixed) *  Dissociative orders *  Some anxiety disorder *  Malingering *  Mental retardation.

Need to be evaluated