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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Visual Hallucinations?

my mom is taking airisept along with vesacare. She is having epsisodes where she thinks people are outside her bedroom and the police needs to be called. She has also told me recently that little children have been running in and out. Could these be hallucinations or delusions? She has dimentia with possible lead into alzeheimers. Please advise me .Thanks
Tue, 25 Nov 2014
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Hi, thank you for using health care magic.
I can understand your concern.As you report your mother is suffering from dementia. Person with dementia have lost there ability of cognition. Cognition is a collection of mental processes by which person have perception and interaction with surroundings. So because of this lost ability many time reality testing becomes impaired and person may have hallucination or delusion. So this is abnormal perception or belief which result due to cognitive impairment.
Still this time there is no definite treatment which can reverse the cognitive impairment. Medicines like donepezil(aricept) and mementine has some efficacy in preventing further impairment. For treating her current symptoms you should consult psychiatrist who will be able to help her symptoms with benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medicines.
You should also consult mental health care worker who will guide you for non-pharmacological measures , which is currently the main line of care along with medicine. Non pharmecological measures are method to changing the atmosphere of person with dementia according to his/her need.
I hope this will help you.
Regards.

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What Causes Visual Hallucinations?

Hi, thank you for using health care magic. I can understand your concern.As you report your mother is suffering from dementia. Person with dementia have lost there ability of cognition. Cognition is a collection of mental processes by which person have perception and interaction with surroundings. So because of this lost ability many time reality testing becomes impaired and person may have hallucination or delusion. So this is abnormal perception or belief which result due to cognitive impairment. Still this time there is no definite treatment which can reverse the cognitive impairment. Medicines like donepezil(aricept) and mementine has some efficacy in preventing further impairment. For treating her current symptoms you should consult psychiatrist who will be able to help her symptoms with benzodiazepines or antipsychotic medicines. You should also consult mental health care worker who will guide you for non-pharmacological measures , which is currently the main line of care along with medicine. Non pharmecological measures are method to changing the atmosphere of person with dementia according to his/her need. I hope this will help you. Regards.