Visual Hallucinations During Hallucinogenic Experience and Schizophrenia

Abstract

The visual hallucinations experienced by a 26-year-old woman under the influence of hallucinogens and during schizophrenia are described. Three types of hallucinations are delineated: (1) superimposed hallucinations, (2) spatial and depth distortions, and (3) animations. These three types of hallucinations appear to represent consecutive gradations on a continuum of the ego function of reality testing, with superimposed hallucinations revealing the least and animations the greatest degree of disorientation. The findings of the present study indicate the need for a research design that compares the hallucinations of schizophrenics to the toxic hallucinations of nonschizophrenics.

The Multidimensional Spectrum of Imagination: Images, Dreams, Hallucinations, and Active, Imaginative Perception

“…I am confident that if he had given even minimal attention to the actual phenomenology of psychedelia McGinn would have classed it as a form of imaginative experience, as he does dreams and psychopathological visions, rather than as a form of true (i.e., for him, unimaginative and purely perceptual) hallucination. After all, psychedelic experience has often been understood, by researchers, to be a sort of temporary psychosis, whose hallucinations are akin to those of schizophrenia [271][272][273]. Certainly, psychedelic experience is not like sober, veridical perception except that some of the things that seem plainly to be there really are not.…”

“…It seems likely (though I am not aware of it having been confirmed scientifically) that, like a sleeping dreamer, people in such states are temporarily largely unaware of what is really going on around them. 30 The following sketch of a phenomenology of psychedelic experience is synthesized from several sources: my own memories of a number of LSD "trips"; anecdotal accounts from hallucinogenic drug users, gathered from various informal sources (including conversation and the internet); and formally published, first or second hand accounts of the effects of various hallucinogens, mostly from the scientific literature [38,[271][272][273][274][275][276][277][278][279]. The systematization, such as it is, is my own, and I make no great claims for the account's comprehensiveness or scientific standing.…”

ADN‐1184 a monoaminergic ligand with 5‐HT6/7 receptor antagonist activity: pharmacological profile and potential therapeutic utility

“…The distinct nature of psychotic symptoms in dementia suggests that different neurobiological mechanisms are at play. In particular, serotonergic systems may be involved because hallucinations in dementia are similar to those caused by serotonergic agonists such as mescaline or lysergic acid (Marsh, ). Strong visual hallucinations can be also evoked by NMDA receptor antagonists such as ketamine or phencyclidine (Siegel, ) but are less frequently evoked by dopaminomimetics such as amphetamine or cocaine, which are widely used in preclinical screening of new drugs for schizophrenia (Jones et al ., ).…”

Clinical Characteristics of Individuals With Schizophrenia and Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder: A Preliminary Investigation

“…To our knowledge, the co-occurrence of schizophrenia and HPPD has only been described in two case reports (Lerner, Shufman et al, 2002;Marsh, 1979). In some clinical settings this coexistence appears to be more frequent and common than expected.…”

“…The co-occurrence of schizophrenia and perceptual disturbances associated with the use of hallucinogens, such as LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), has been previously reported in case reports (Lerner, Shufman, et al, 2002;Marsh, 1979). Despite the use of antipsychotic medication, which has been reported to be useful in the treatment of HPPD-related visual disturbances in the general population (Anderson & O'Malley, 1972;A.…”