Formerly classified
as Post Hallucinogen Perception Disorder, Hallucinogen Persisting
Perception Disorder involves re-experiencing the symptoms of hallucinogen
without actual taking any of these substances.
What is a hallucinogen?
Hallucinogens are drugs that cause distortions in a user’s perceptions
of reality. Users often see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations
that seem real but do not exist. Some hallucinogens produce rapid,
intense mood swings. The most common hallucinogens are LSD,
PMA,
2 C-B, peyote, and certain varieties of mushrooms.
The essential
feature of Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (Flashbacks)
is the transient recurrence of disturbances in perception that are
reminiscent of those experienced during one or more earlier Hallucinogen
Intoxications.
The disturbance
therefore causes marked distress. Complications of this disorder include
suicidal behavior, Major Depression,
and Panic Disorder. Main characteristics
are:
The re-experiencing, following cessation of use of a hallucinogen,
of one or more of the perceptual symptoms that were experienced while
intoxicated with the hallucinogen (e.g., geometric hallucinations,
false perceptions of movement in the peripheral visual fields, flashes
of color, intensified colors, trails of images of moving objects,
positive afterimages, halos around objects).
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in
social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The symptoms are not due to a general medical condition (e.g., anatomical
lesions and infections of the brain, visual epilepsies) and are not
better accounted for by another mental disorder.
Associated
Features:
Major
Depression
Panic Disorder
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar symptoms. The clinician, therefore, in
his diagnostic attempt, has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Delerium
Dementia
Schizophrenia
Cause:
The origins of
this disorder are not known.
Some clinicians believe it may be caused by the destruction of inhibitory
neurons that regulate and filter sensory information. Another theory
states that it could be a form of visual seizures not unlike epilepsy.
Since HPPD
is a rare disorder, not much research has been devoted to what causes
it.
Treatment:
Because HPPD symptoms may be
mistaken for other neurological disorders such as stroke or brain
tumors, accurate diagnosis is extremely important. There is no established
treatment for HPPD, although some antidepressant drugs may reduce
the symptoms. Psychotherapy may help patients adjust to the confusion
associated with visual distraction and to minimize the fear, expressed
by some, that they are suffering brain damage or psychiatric disorder.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
The most important
thing is for you to avoid using or abusing psychoactive substances
and therefore drug rehab therapy is important factor in coping with
the disorder. Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a person's
specific situation and usually involves a combination of methods.
The different options include individual counselling, group therapy,
medication and supervised/home withdrawal.
Pharmacotherapy
[ See Psychopharmacology
Section ] :
Pharmacological
agents such as clonidine, perphenazine and clonazepan have been shown
to ameliorate this syndrome in some of the individuals seeking treatment.
