title: Multimodal Sensory Distortions in Postpartum Exacerbation of Schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensory distortions of body image commonly occur during migraine, seizures, nondominant cortical infarcts and hallucinogen abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 30-year-old woman with paranoid schizophrenia presenting with postpartum onset multimodal sensory distortions in the absence of any neurological disorders or substance use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Her symptoms involved persistent facial/body metamorphopsia (distorted images) and vocal paracousis (distorted voices), in the absence of visual hallucinations, illusions or agnosia. Neuropsychological assessments revealed deficits on visual processing tasks. Neuroimaging, electroencephalography and ophthalmological evaluation revealed no abnormalities. The multimodal sensory distortions responded to antipsychotic treatment, paralleling improvement in other schizophrenia psychopathology, over a period of one month.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prominent and persistent multimodal sensory distortions like metamorphopsia and paracousis in the presence of psychotic symptoms warrant a detailed neurological and general medical work-up. These symptoms presenting in the absence of neurological or substance use disorders may be a component of schizophrenia.
authors.forename: Urvakhsh Meherwan
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naveen Kumar
authors.forename: Ganesan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Venkatasubramanian
authors.forename: Jagadisha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thirthalli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001308:Auditory Perceptual Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D057215:Body Dysmorphic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D014796:Visual Perception
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Metamorphopsia; Paracousis; Phenomenology; Puerperal Psychosis; Sensory Distortions