Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: Somesthetic vs. Visual Perceptual Disturbance (P01.117)
Citation Manager Formats
Make Comment
See Comments

Abstract
Objective: To determine whether clinical characteristics of Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) depend on type of perceptual disorder involved.
Background In 1955, Todd defined AIWS as self-experienced paroxysmal body-image illusions involving distortions of size, mass, shape, or position. Todd named the AIWS for the perceptual disorder of altered body image experienced by the protagonist in Lewis Carroll's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865). By the original definition, the obligatory core symptom of AIWS is a distortion of the body schema. However, since Todd's description, some authors have included cases with visual or mixed perceptual disturbances.
Design/Methods: We performed a systematic synthesis of English-language reports of AIWS identified by PubMed. Cases with visual and somesthetic perceptual disorders not identified as AIWS were excluded. Abstracted information included type of perceptual disorder, etiology, age, sex, duration, and evidence of focal brain lesions. Perceptual disorders were categorized as somesthetic (Type A), visual (Type B), or both (Type C).
Results: We identified 81 cases: Type A, 9 (11%); Type B, 59 (73%); Type C, 13 (16%). Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was the most commonly identified cause (n=39, 48%), followed by migraine (n=9, 11%). EBV was most frequent in Type B cases (Type A, 11%; Type B, 61%; Type C, 15%). Migraine was most frequent in Type C (Type A, 22%; Type B, 0%; Type C, 46%). Median age (years) varied by Type (Type A, 17; Type B, 8; Type C, 20) with Type B cases overall younger (predominantly EBV). Of cases with gender recorded (n=64), 47% were male without significant differences across Type.
Conclusions: In AIWS clinical characteristics depend on the type of perceptual disorder involved. Those with isolated visual perceptual disorders occur preferentially in young individuals with EBV, whereas mixed perceptual disorders occur preferentially in older migraineurs.
Supported by: Department of Veterans Affairs.
Disclosure: Mr. Lanska has received personal compensation for activities with Medlink. Dr. Lanska has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Medlink Neurology.
Monday, April 23 2012, 14:00 pm-18:30 pm
- Copyright © 2011 by AAN Enterprises, Inc.
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Dr. Nicole Sur and Dr. Mausaminben Hathidara
► Watch
Related Articles
- No related articles found.