[The Charles Bonnet syndrome: a case report and a brief review].
The Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a rare disease that also seems to be generally misdiagnosed. Initially described in the XVIII century by the philosopher with the same name, it consist in complex visual hallucinations in elderly people who suffer sensory deprivation with no other psychopathology. The hypothesis on the neurophysiology of hallucinations suggests, as in other diseases that present hallucinations, some implication of thalamus-cortex pathway release. Some authors have proposed CBS as an early marker of dementia and Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, the results in functional neuroimaging are not conclusive. Regarding treatment, typical and atypical neuroleptics do not seem to be useful and recent studies suggest that the new anticonvulsants could be effcient. The patient should be informed about CBS as a <<non-psychiatric disease>>. In the case reported, the patient presented complex hallucinations with normal SPECT and neuropsychological examinations. The patient did not respond to treatment with risperidone, presenting a favorable evolucion with valpromide. Although further research is needed, this case report supports the efficacy of valpromide in CBS.
Saiz Gonzáles
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Servicio de Psiquiatría Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, España. lolasaiz@yahoo.es
Diaz Marsá
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D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013577:Syndrome; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D014635:Valproic Acid