Charles Bonnet syndrome
Introduction. Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition that causes visual hallucinations in patients without any mental illnesses. CBS is characterized by the presence of vivid, complex and recurrent visual hallucinations, and do not occur in the setting or as part of delirium or other...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Military Health Department, Ministry of Defance, Serbia
2016-01-01
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| Series: | Vojnosanitetski Pregled |
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| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2016/0042-84501500140S.pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction. Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition that causes visual
hallucinations in patients without any mental illnesses. CBS is characterized
by the presence of vivid, complex and recurrent visual hallucinations, and do
not occur in the setting or as part of delirium or other psychological
illnesses. The condition is present in patients who have visual loss due to
age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts and/or other ocular
diseases that influence vision. Case report. A 81-year-od woman reported to
ophthalmologist complaining of visual hallucinations that consisted of white
pigeons. Hallucinations were present for two years and she was well aware
that hallucinations were unreal. Mental illnesses were excluded by the
psychiatrist. Complete ophthalmologic examination was performed, and finding
revealed visual acuity of 0.3 (right eye) and 0.5 (left eye), in both eyes
cataracts and AMD (wet form). Optical coherence tomography confirmed the
fundoscopic finding of AMD. The patient rejected treatment of cataracts and
AMD due to old age, and hallucinations persisted. Conclusion. CBS should be
considered in patients with visual hallucinations and ocular diseases that
influence vision. It is essential to distinguish CBS from mental illnesses,
since patients with CBS are fully aware that hallucinations are not real.
Awareness of CBS could help physicians upon referring patients to
ophthalmologists instead of psychiatrists, and therefore avoid patients being
misdiagnosed. |
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| ISSN: | 0042-8450 2406-0720 |