Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-vdxz6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T01:51:07.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Flashbacks and schizophrenia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Hazim Obaydi
Hazim Obaydi*
Affiliation:
Senior Registrar, Department of Psychiatry, Cell Barnes Hospital, Highfield Lane, St. Albans, Herts AL4 ORG, and Charing Cross and Westminister Medical School, London
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Three cases of schizophrenia (DSM-III-R) (l), whilst responding to treatment, exhibit a group of symptoms which had the essential features of “flashbacks”, as described in relation to psychedelic drugs, though there was no evidence of psychedelic drug misuse. Symptoms were characterised by memory flashes of the original psychotic experience, followed immediately by very brief re-experiencing of earlier symptoms, including visual perceptual changes in clear consciousness and full insight. Symptoms were less clear, less severe, but more distressing, than the original episodes. Symptoms were triggered by stress/anxiety, and relieved by an anxiolytic. The association of flashbacks with schizophrenia is discussed.

Keywords

SchizophreniaVisual hallucinationFlashbacksMemory flashes
Type
Clinical & Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1993 , pp. 37 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 3rd rev ed (DSM-III-R). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1987.Google Scholar
2.Naditch, MP, Fenwick, S. LSD flashbacks and ego functioning. J Abnorm Psychol 1977; 86: 352–359.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Strassman, RJ. Adverse reactions to psychedelic drugs: a review of the literature. J Nerv Ment Dis 1984 10; 172 (10): 577–595.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Abraham, HD. Visual phenomenology of the LSD flashback. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1983 08; 40 (8): 884–889.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Frosch, WA, Robbins, ES, Stern, M. Untoward reactions to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) resulting in hospitalization. New Engl J Med 1965; 273: 1235–1239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Madden, JS. A guide to alcohol and drug dependence. 2nd ed. Bristol: John Wright, 1984.Google Scholar
7.Horowitz, MJ. Flashbacks: recurrent intrusive images after the use of LSD. Am J Psychiatry 1969; 126: 565–569.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Behar, D. Flashbacks and post traumatic stress symptoms in combat veterans. Compr Psychiatry 1987 11-Dec; 28 (6): 459–466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Talbott, JA, Hales, RE, Yudofsky, SC. Textbook of psychiatry. Washinton DC: The American Psychiatric Press, 1988.Google Scholar
10.Cohen, SA. Classification of LSD complications. Psychosomatics 1966; 7: 182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Abraham, HD. A chronic impairment of colour vision in users of LSD. Br J Psychiatry 1982; 140: 518–520.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Lishman, WA. Organic psychiatry: the psychological consequences of cerebral disorders. 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1987.Google Scholar
13.Stanton, M, Mintz, J, Franklin, RM. Drug flashbacks. Int J Addict 1976; 11: 53–59.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Rosenthal, SH. Persistent hallucinosis following repeated administration of hallucinogenic drugs. Am J Psychiatry 1974; 131: 238–244.Google Scholar
15.Lader, MH, Marks, IM. Clinical anxiety. London: Heinemann, 1971.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Hamilton, M. Fish's clinical psychopathology: signs and symptoms in psychiatry. Revised print. Bristol: Wright, 1974.Google Scholar
17.Cutting, J. The psychology of schizophrenia. Edinburgh: Churchill, 1985.Google Scholar
18.World Health Organisation. The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 1992.Google Scholar
19.Wittenborn, R, McDonald, DC, Maurer, HS. Persisting symptoms in schizophrenia predicted by background factors. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1977; 34: 1057–1061.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed