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LSD Flashbacks - The Appearance of New Visual Imagery Not Experienced During Initial Intoxication: Two Case Reports
Arturo G Lerner1, Craig Goodman2, Dmitri Rudinski2
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
This study reports on two cases of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) following lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) use, where patients experienced novel visual imagery during flashbacks. These benign, reversible HPPD episodes resolved spontaneously within a year.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) is a recognized side effect of synthetic hallucinogen use, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
- HPPD is characterized by the recurrence of perceptual disturbances during periods of sobriety.
- Previous literature has not extensively detailed the emergence of novel visual phenomena during HPPD episodes.
Observation:
- Two patients with a history of LSD use presented with brief episodes of HPPD.
- During these HPPD episodes, patients reported experiencing new visual imagery not present during their initial LSD intoxication.
- The subjects could differentiate between LSD-induced and novel visual disturbances, which caused concern due to persistence but not functional impairment.
Findings:
- These cases represent the first reported instances of LSD-related HPPD involving the experience of new visual imagery.
- The novel visual imagery experienced during HPPD was distinct from primary LSD effects.
- Both patients experienced spontaneous remission of HPPD symptoms within one year without medical intervention.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that HPPD, specifically in the context of LSD use, may manifest with unique and benign perceptual alterations.
- Understanding the mechanisms behind novel imagery in HPPD could offer insights into hallucinogen-induced visual processing.
- Further research is warranted to explore the neurobiological underpinnings of these reversible and seemingly harmless HPPD phenomena, though conclusions from case reports should be approached cautiously.