apollo
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2001
- Messages
- 2,422
Until not long ago I genuinely believed that I was insane. Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder looks like it's the answer to my apparent insanity.
For those who don't know what it is... Here's a little info from Erowid...
For those who don't know what it is... Here's a little info from Erowid...
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder is a long-term visual disorder caused by taking hallucinogens. It is a recognised condition described in DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) under Diagnostic Code: 292.89. The DSM is the standard manual for mental disorders used by psychologists and psychiatrists in the United States. In the DSM III, HPPD was referred to as Post Hallucinogen Perception Disorder (PHPD) and this phrase is often still used. In the 1960s and 1970s, HPPD was often included under the umbrella term "flashbacks". Although flashbacks and persisting perceptual disorders are distinct problems, the two may be associated. Unlike flashbacks, HPPD is most often characterized by continual visual interference rather than a series of acute attacks.
In mild cases, subjects occasionally experience minor visual distortions. In its most severe forms, subjects have a full range of LSD-like visual effects such as tracers, color trails, and distorted object sizes on an ongoing basis. A more complete list of symptoms can be found in the Symptoms section of this FAQ. Severe HPPD is very debilitating and subjects often seek psychiatric help.
Medically, there are three conditions which define HPPD:
Subjects experience drug-like sensory disturbances while not under the influence of any drugs.
The disturbances interfere with work, school, social settings, or other areas.
There are no other physical or mental conditions that account for the disturbances (lesions, visual epilepsy, schizophrenia, dementia, etc.)
The complete DSM IV criteria can be found in Appendix A of this FAQ. HPPD is a psychiatric diagnosis (the DSM IV is a manual for psychiatry) and is different from the more neutral medical term "palinopsia". Palinopsia is a technical term used in opthamology to describe abnormally prolonged visual afterimages, especially on moving targets or high contrast objects, or 'trails'. For more information see the section on palinopsia.
HPPD subjects experience a wide range of visual disturbances. These disturbances are the result of changes in the way that the brain processes visual information.
It is important to realize that many of these visual disturbances are present to some degree in healthy people. For example, most people will see points of light, "floaters", and other visual effects if they stare at a blue sky or brightly lit white surface for several minutes. Everybody sees shapes in clouds or see halos around lights at night. These things are normal.
What differentiates the medical condition of HPPD from normal visual 'noise' is the severity of these effects. HPPD subjects have these effects with sufficient frequency and severity that it interferes with their ability to function in their daily lives.
HPPD symptoms vary widely in severity and frequency. In mild cases, HPPD is little more then an occasional annoyance. In severe cases subjects report a wide range of the symptoms listed below on an ongoing basis.
Partial List of HPPD Symptoms[*]Afterimages - After looking at an object for a while and then looking away, a positive or negative image of the object remains visible. [*]Color Confusion - It is difficult to tell colors apart. Colors may appear to change over time. Example: a red sweater may turn yellow, or black text in a book may turn bright green. [*]Reduced Color Discrimination - Some subjects report a reduction in the brightness or fidelity of colors, sometimes making it harder to tell similar colors apart. [*]Difficulty Reading - Text may sway back and forth. Letters leave positive and negative after-images. Letters may vanish into an "alphabet soup".[*]Flashes of color - Subjects may see bright lights, flashes, or sheets of color that appear and disappear.
Geometric Patterns - Subjects see geometric patterns and shapes. Example: leaves in a tree may form patterns. [*]Halos around objects - Objects appear to have halos that extend for some distance around their edges. [*]Images within Images - Subjects see faces or other complex images where none exist. Example: a hardwood floor may appear to be made out of faces. [*]Movement - Stationary objects appear to sway back and forth or slide across the floor. This is most common in the peripheral vision. [*]Size Distortions - Objects temporarily seem to be smaller or larger then they actually are and then return to their normal sizes. [*]Static - Subjects see static over monochrome surfaces. This is especially noticeable at night. Example: in a totally dark room it may look like there is a TV set turned on broadcasting static.
It's also very rare...6. How common is HPPD?
No large-scale studies have been done so there is no accurate answer to this. Also, even the little research which has been done has not been reproduced and verified by unrelated labs. It is likely that HPPD is under-reported because so few people in the medical community know what it is. Severe HPPD seems to be very rare although Dr. Abraham estimates the number may be as high as 1-5% of LSD users. This is his best guess based on his research experiences and the small studies which have been done, but the epedemiological studies to verify this have not been attempted.
Based on anecdotal reports to Erowid, it seems unlikely that as high as 5% of those who have ever used LSD would have clinically-significant symptoms reaching the level of HPPD. While it is very likely Erowid's sample is biased, the 1-5% number cited by Abraham likely include sub-clinical (meaning not life-disrupting) levels of lasting visual effects. It is impossible, in Erowid's opinion, that 1 in 20 people who have ever taken LSD meet the DSM-IV criteria for HPPD.
Guesses about the prevelance of all sub clinical (non life disrupting) visual disturbances in psychedelic users are much higher. Unfortunately because there have been no large-scale studies, these estimates should not be considered reliable. Numbers vary widely and range from 5%-75% of all psychedelic users. Dr. Abraham estimates this number at 40%. Some references suggest that as many as "30 to 60% of heavy users experience [visual changes] in some form or another." (Buzzed first edition, pg 78. Kuhn, Swartzwelder, Wilson 199 8)
Some studies have shown that HPPD-free LSD users may experience measurable ongoing visual disturbances. These users seem to be unaware of these changes, but the medical definition of HPPD also does not include anyone for whom the changes do not disrupt their life. See here for more information.
This post isn't for the sake of whinging about it, nor describing what it's like... That belongs in the Dark Side. I've posted here as I need regional responses...
There's very few specialists in Australia who deal with HPPD. Of those listed symptoms, 8 are very prominent in my day to day life. I'd like to know if anyone else in Australia has this condition, and if there is an existing support group anywhere locally. I'm looking to start one, however first I've got to confirm there isn't, and find others who are interested as clearly to have a productive group, you need more than one person. Anyone?
[ 23 November 2002: Message edited by: apollo ]
