Charles Bonnet Syndrome: Case series.

Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki,Leonel Tadao Takada,Ricardo Nitrini

doi:10.1590/s1980-57642009dn30100012

Sonia Maria Dozzi Brucki, Leonel Tadao Takada + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1980-57642009dn30100012

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Abstract

Since its first description in 1760, Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) has been reported in many studies. The main characteristics are visual hallucinations, preserved awareness of unreal visions, and absence of psychotic symptoms. CBS can occur with lesions located anywhere along the central visual pathway, from the eye to the calcarine fissure.ObjectiveTo describe patients with CBS and carry out a review of the literature.MethodsSix patients with visual hallucinations were evaluated in an outpatient memory clinic between 2001 and 2008, and their clinical characteristics recorded.ResultsFour patients were female, and the mean age was 74.5±16.9 years. Three patients had visual loss secondary to eye disease and three due to cerebral lesions. The visions consisted of animals, persons, moving objects, bizarre creatures or colored forms, and were considered disturbing by five patients. Five patients received treatment, and only three reported partial benefit from the therapy. Complete recovery was not seen in any of the subjects.ConclusionsCBS is relatively rare and its recognition is important to avoid misdiagnoses with psychiatric or dementing illnesses.

Highlights

Since its first description in 1760, Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) has been reported in many studies
Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is characterized by the presence of complex visual hallucinations, frequently associated to visual loss where patients are conscious of the fictitious nature of their hallucinations, and do not present psychotic symptoms.[1]
Our aim is to describe a series of six patients with visual impairment and CBS that were evaluated by our group

Summary

Introduction

Abstract – Since its first description in 1760, Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) has been reported in many studies. Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is characterized by the presence of complex visual hallucinations, frequently associated to visual loss where patients are conscious of the fictitious nature of their hallucinations, and do not present psychotic symptoms.[1] The disorder was termed CBS in 1967 by de Morsier.[2]. More recently published studies have reported a lower prevalence of approximately 1% in Asia (0.5% in Japan).[12] In contrast, prevalence of CBS was 17.5% in 200 elderly with visual impairment in Australia,[13] and 27.5% in patients with age-related macular degeneration in the United Kingdom.[14] This syndrome has been described in a few cases of children with vision loss.[15] Its prevalence probably underestimated, due to low disclosure by the patients, and owing to various medical conditions associated with the syndrome, as well as to the lack of knowledge about this condition among physicians

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