title: High prevalence of visual hallucinations in research subjects with chronic schizophrenia.
abstract: The authors examined the prevalence of visual hallucinations in severely ill hospitalized research subjects with carefully diagnosed chronic schizophrenia and found it to be high. A chart review of 100 discharged subjects revealed documentation of visual hallucinations in 32%, and a prospective examination of 43 additional subjects revealed a history of visual hallucinations in 56% (N = 24). Also, the fact that in 43% of the patients with visual hallucinations the history of visual hallucinations was first documented during the research ward work-up suggests that clinicians frequently do not inquire about visual hallucinations in patients with chronic schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Program, NIMH, Neuropsychiatry Branch, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bracha
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Wolkowitz
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lohr
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Karson
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bigelow
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications*; D014796:Visual Perception