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LSD-associated "Alice in Wonderland Syndrome"(AIWS): A Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) Case Report
Arturo G Lerner1, Shaul Lev-Ran2
1Lev Hasharon Mental Health Medical Center, Pardessya, Israel Sackler School Of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
The Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences
|April 5, 2015
Summary
LSD use can cause persistent visual disturbances, known as Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS), even after drug cessation. This case study details a patient
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) is a condition where individuals experience persistent perceptual disturbances after hallucinogen use.
- Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS), or Todd's syndrome, involves visual distortions like macropsia, micropsia, pelopsia, and teleopsia.
Observation:
- A patient with a history of recreational substance use, including LSD, reported experiencing AIWS symptoms.
- These AIWS symptoms emerged during LSD intoxication and persisted after cessation of LSD use, consistent with HPPD.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of AIWS persisting as HPPD following LSD interruption.
- The persistent AIWS, while not causing major functional impairment, caused significant patient distress.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for persistent AIWS as a manifestation of HPPD.
- Understanding the mechanisms behind this benign, reversible side effect is crucial for clinical management.
- Further research is needed to explore the reasons for this intriguing phenomenon.
