Journal article 131 views 13 downloads
Visual Hallucinations and Illusions as Missed Diagnostic Clues in Autoimmune Disease: A Patient Perspective
Journal of Patient Experience, Volume: 13
Swansea University Author: RUPERT HARWOOD
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© The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1177/23743735261439465
Abstract
Non-psychotic visual hallucinations and illusions (referred to here as NVHIs), such as visual snow, can be indicators of serious underlying pathologies, including Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. In this Patient Perspective article, I recount some of the impacts of NVHIs, and their attributio...
| Published in: | Journal of Patient Experience |
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| ISSN: | 2374-3735 2374-3743 |
| Published: |
SAGE Publications
2026
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71661 |
| Abstract: |
Non-psychotic visual hallucinations and illusions (referred to here as NVHIs), such as visual snow, can be indicators of serious underlying pathologies, including Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. In this Patient Perspective article, I recount some of the impacts of NVHIs, and their attribution/misattribution, on my autoimmune diagnostic journeys. I then draw on these experiences, and the literature, to suggest improvements to policies and practice. It is hoped that these types of changes could contribute to NVHI-related diagnostic opportunities being less often missed. |
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| Item Description: |
Patient Perspective |
| Keywords: |
autoimmune, SARDs, Sjögren’s Disease, hallucinations, visual snow, diagnosis, diagnostic overshadowing, patient experiences |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |