A Trial of Patients With a Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is defined by the occurence of visual hallucinations (VH) in the absence of any mental disorder. Elderly patients with reduced visual acuity due to ophthalmic diseases are most affected. Conditions are often associated with the syndrome of age-related macular degeneration, cataract or glaucoma. Existing data on the syndrome's prevalence in Europe reveal diverse results. Aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of CBS in patients with low visual acuity and to evaluate, if an additional therapeutic interview with and treatment by a psychiatrist is beneficial.

Detailed Description
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Patients with a visual acuity of 0.5 LogMAR or less in the better eye were screened for CBS. Instruments used were an interview asking for details of the hallucinations, a mental test and a scale concerning quality of life. Patients with CBS were randomized by minimization in two groups: in group 1, a patient-doctor interview by an ophthalmologist was performed and in group 2 an interview and if needed, a therapy by a psychiatrist. At the 3-months follow up, the psychological strain of patients was recorded again.

Official Title
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A Randomized Control Trial of Patients With a Charles Bonnet Syndrome

Conditions
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Prevalence, Psychiatrist Intervention

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: interview


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: written informed consent visual acuity of 0.5 LogMAR or less at both eyes 55 years or older Patients with CBS: have no mental pathologies such as dementia, psychosis or any other neurological diseases have a normal cognitive state are not able to control the VH know that the VH are not real are usually older have significantly reduced visual acuity due to an bilateral eye pathology VH associated with CBS: disappear when the eyes are closed are repetitive are complex (eg. objects, geometrical patterns, faces, shapes, figures, scenes, animals or plants) Exclusion Criteria: dopamine agonist medication temporal lobe epilepsy moderate to severe Alzheimer's dementia present chronic alcohol-/drug abuse bad cognitive state There are no: auditory or olfactory hallucinations other abnormalities like delusions

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 55 Years
Maximum Age: 105 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: interview with an ophthalmologist<br>Patients get an interview with an ophthalmologist | Other: interview<br>* control group: interview, study group: explanation and exploration<br>|
| Experimental: interview/treatment by a psychiatrist<br>patients get an interview and a possible treatment by a psychiatrist | Other: interview<br>* control group: interview, study group: explanation and exploration<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of life score between the two groups | Quality of life score between the study and control group | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Randomized control trial, Charles Bonnet syndrome, visual hallucinations, age related macular degeneration, patient education