A snake lady: post-concussion syndrome manifesting visual hallucinations of snakes

A 37-year-old female was referred to the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa with visual hallucinations of snakes that began ten months after a brief loss of consciousness in a car accident. She also complained about a persistent headache and depressed mood that began shortly after the accident. Her depressive symptoms did not respond to amitriptyline or ECT. By thoroughly reviewing the clinical features and course of this patient, we conclude that the she did not have a typical, definite psychiatric syndrome explaining her hallucinations. The hallucination of snakes in this case may be a manifestation of post-concussional syndrome.