Multimodal Hallucinations in a Visually Impaired Elderly Female: Is it a Variant of Charles Bonnet Syndrome?

Sarkar, Sukanto; Subramanium, Eswaran; Jha, Kirti Nath

doi:10.4103/0253-7176.207331

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…By certain definitions, multimodal hallucinations preclude a diagnosis of CBS. However, the designation “atypical” has been introduced in cases of suspected CBS with non-classic features such as poor insight, cognitive decline, history of psychiatric illness, and presence of other hallucinatory modalities [ 13 - 16 ]. Atypical CBS may also include unusually high or persistent stress in response to the hallucinations, which may have been manifested in this patient as ongoing anxiety toward her hallucinatory experiences prior to receiving adequate reassurance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ave Maria and Visions of Children: Atypical Charles Bonnet Syndrome or Two Coexisting Deafferentation Phenomena?

Koek¹,

Espinosa²

2018

Cureus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) refers to the experience of visual hallucinations in the context of visual impairment. The underlying pathology may be localized anywhere along the visual pathway from the eye itself to visual cortical centers. It is sometimes compared to phantom limb syndrome; both involve decreased sensory input, as in loss of a limb or declining vision, resulting in overactivity in areas of the brain controlling sensory perception. Definitive diagnostic criteria are still lacking and may vary by discipline. However, the following features are generally agreed upon: visual hallucinations, impaired vision, and intact cognition and insight. Psychiatric symptoms, cognitive decline, and hallucinations of other sensory modalities are often excluded, although this remains an area of debate. Certain non-classic cases of CBS have inspired the designation of atypical CBS, which encompasses a wide spectrum of sensory experiences and associated symptoms. Auditory hallucinations in the hearing-impaired, a well-described phenomenon thought to have a similar pathogenesis, share with CBS the important risk factor of increased age. In patients experiencing both types of hallucinations with deterioration in both sensory domains, the distinction between a CBS variant and two independent processes may not be straightforward. In addition to the ongoing diagnostic dilemma posed by multimodal hallucinations, these phenomena tend to be underreported by patients likely due to concern that they will be diagnosed with mental illness. Although many patients with this condition are indifferent to it, some suffer distress from their hallucinations and would benefit from recognition, reassurance, and in some cases correction of the underlying cause or pharmacologic treatment. Here we present the case of an elderly woman with a history of macular degeneration and chronic hearing loss who experienced complex auditory and visual hallucinations surrounding an episode of severe anxiety. We postulate that her anxiety acted as a precipitant to her hallucinatory experiences and may partially explain their abrupt onset in the absence of other clear pathologic processes. This case serves to reinforce CBS as a possible etiology of visual hallucinations in the elderly population, while also generating discussion of how to classify her particular set of symptoms.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ave Maria and Visions of Children: Atypical Charles Bonnet Syndrome or Two Coexisting Deafferentation Phenomena?

Koek¹,

Espinosa²

2018

Cureus

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…5,6 Various cases of visual hallucinations secondary to visual impairment (e.g., Charles Bonnet syndrome) have been reported in the literature, but there are very few cases of deafferentation auditory hallucinations. 5,[7][8][9] Here, we describe a case of an elderly male with auditory DH to emphasize the importance of screening for sensory impairments, especially in elderly patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deafferentation Hallucinations: A Less Explored Entity

Verma,

Karn

2024

Eastern Journal of Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Некоторые исследователи указывают на возможность развития слуховых галлюцинаций у пациентов с СШБ [12,13].…”

unclassified

Charles Bonnet syndrome: a clinical case and a review of literature

Grigoryeva

Семенова

Егорова

2018

RJTAO

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Синдром Шарля Бонне (СШБ)-зрительные галлюцинации у больных с билатеральным снижением/утратой зрения либо с изменением полей зрения, не связанные с нарушением когнитивных функций или помрачением сознания [1]. Зрительные галлюцинации при этом синдроме обусловлены нарушением проведения зрительной информации к коре головного мозга. Патологический процесс может локализоваться как на уровне глазного яблока и зрительного нерва, так и в веществе головного мозга [1, 2]. Ряд авторов дает более узкое определение данного синдрома, трактуя его как зрительные галлюцинации, сопряженные лишь со снижением/утратой зрения при «периферическом», «прехиазмальном» уровне поражения, но не с гемианопсией при очагах в веществе головного мозга [3]. На практике СШБ у многих больных диагностируется с большим опозданием, лишь через несколько лет после возникновения галлюцинаций [4].

show abstract

Multimodal Hallucinations in a Visually Impaired Elderly Female: Is it a Variant of Charles Bonnet Syndrome?

Cited by 6 publications

References 19 publications

Ave Maria and Visions of Children: Atypical Charles Bonnet Syndrome or Two Coexisting Deafferentation Phenomena?

Ave Maria and Visions of Children: Atypical Charles Bonnet Syndrome or Two Coexisting Deafferentation Phenomena?

Deafferentation Hallucinations: A Less Explored Entity

Charles Bonnet syndrome: a clinical case and a review of literature

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About