Date of Presentation
5-6-2021 12:00 AM
College
School of Osteopathic Medicine
Poster Abstract
Alice in wonderland syndrome (AIWS) has been described as body image illusions involving distortions of the size, mass, or shape of the patient’s own body or its position in space, often occurring with depersonalization and derealization. Most cases typically affect young children.
Common distortions are micropsia, macropsia, metamorphopsia, and pelopsia.
The term was adopted from the book by Lewis Carroll, wherein the main character perceived her size and shape to change in different scenarios.
These distortions are often expressed as sensory perceptions rather than illusions or hallucinations, and are often distressing to the patient.
AIWS onset has been found to be associated with infection, among most frequent pathogens are epilepsy, migraine, depression, and Epstein Barr Virus. The most common which have been reported to show association are infection and migraine/head trauma.
This case describes a relatively quick onset of symptoms of AIWS in a patient after a prolonged hospital stay.
Keywords
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, perceptual disorders, mental health
Disciplines
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Medicine and Health Sciences | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychological Phenomena and Processes
Document Type
Poster
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatry Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons
Case of New Onset Alice in Wonderland Syndrome in Adolescent After Prolonged Hospitalization
Alice in wonderland syndrome (AIWS) has been described as body image illusions involving distortions of the size, mass, or shape of the patient’s own body or its position in space, often occurring with depersonalization and derealization. Most cases typically affect young children.
Common distortions are micropsia, macropsia, metamorphopsia, and pelopsia.
The term was adopted from the book by Lewis Carroll, wherein the main character perceived her size and shape to change in different scenarios.
These distortions are often expressed as sensory perceptions rather than illusions or hallucinations, and are often distressing to the patient.
AIWS onset has been found to be associated with infection, among most frequent pathogens are epilepsy, migraine, depression, and Epstein Barr Virus. The most common which have been reported to show association are infection and migraine/head trauma.
This case describes a relatively quick onset of symptoms of AIWS in a patient after a prolonged hospital stay.