Blackman G, Dadwal AK, Teixeira-Dias M, Ffytche D. The association between visual hallucinations and secondary psychosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2023;
28:391-405. [PMID:
37922514 DOI:
10.1080/13546805.2023.2266872]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
Visual hallucinations are often considered to be suggestive of a secondary cause of psychosis, however, this association has never been assessed meta-analytically. We aimed to compare the presence of visual hallucinations in patients with psychosis due to a primary or secondary cause.
METHOD
We conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies directly comparing primary and secondary psychosis. A random-effects model, following the DerSimonian and Laird method, was used to pool studies and generate overall odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals (PI).
RESULTS
Fourteen studies (904 primary and 804 secondary psychosis patients) were included. Visual hallucinations were significantly associated with secondary psychosis (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.7-5.1, p < 0.001) with moderate between-study heterogeneity (I2 = 70%). Subgroup analysis by type of secondary psychosis (organic, drug-induced, mixed) was non-significant. Analysis of the content of visual hallucinations (51 primary and 142 secondary psychosis patients) found hallucinations of inanimate objects were significantly more likely to be associated with secondary psychosis (OR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.01-0.8, p = 0.03).
CONCLUSIONS
Visual hallucinations were strongly associated with a secondary cause of psychosis. The presence of visual hallucinations in a patient presenting with psychosis may serve as a potential "red flag" for a secondary cause and warrant further investigation.
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