Clinical Characteristics of the Charles Bonnet Syndrome in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: The Importance of Early Detection

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Leandro, JE (Author) Other; Beato, J (Author) Other; Pedrosa, AC (Author) Other; Pinheiro Costa, J (Author) Other; Manuel Falcão (Author) FMUP; Falcao Reis, F (Author) Other; Carneiro, AM (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Ophthalmic Research

Vol. 63

Pages: 466-473

ISSN: 0030-3747

Publisher: Karger

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-NAH

DOI: 10.1159/000506137

Abstract (EN): Purpose:We investigated the characteristics, prognosis, and clinical outcome of the Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Methods:Five hundred psychiatrically healthy patients with neovascular AMD were screened for CBS. The individuals that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were systematically interviewed using a structured questionnaire that covered the impact, prognosis, risk factors, phenomenology, symptoms, and knowledge about the syndrome. A control group of 45 patients was used for comparison. Demographic data, current medication, and ocular risk factors were collected in all patients.Results:Forty-five patients with CBS were identified. The majority of patients reported images that consisted of colored (62%) animals (44%) or faces (42%) that lasted for seconds (53%). Most patients reported a self-limited disease with a median duration of symptoms between 9 and 11.5 months, with only 7% knowing about CBS at symptom onset. The degree of visual deficit did not predict the characteristics, complexity, frequency, duration, or impact of visual hallucinations. One-third of patients reported negative outcome, which was associated with shorter duration of CBS (p= 0.023), fear-inducing images (p< 0.001), and impact on daily activities (p= 0.015).Conclusion:The prevalence of CBS in neovascular AMD patients is high and clinically relevant. Patients with recent onset of visual hallucinations and describing fear-inducing images are at greater risk for negative outcome. Periodic screening may minimize the negative consequences of this disease.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8