High prevalence of visual hallucinations in research subjects with chronic schizophrenia

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Abstract
The authors examined the prevalence of visual hallucinations in severely ill hospitalized research subjects with carefully diagnosed chronic schizophrenia and found it to be high. A chart review of 100 discharged subjects revealed documentation of visual hallucinations in 32%, and a prospective examination of 43 additional subjects revealed a history of visual hallucinations in 56% (N = 24). Also, the fact that in 43% of the patients with visual hallucinations the history of visual hallucinations was first documented during the research ward work-up suggests that clinicians frequently do not inquire about visual hallucinations in patients with chronic schizophrenia.