[The Charles Bonnet syndrome]

Abstract

The Charles Bonnet syndrome represents an organic hallucinosis characterized by the appearance of visual hallucinations in otherwise sane elderly people. As a specific organic factor, a reduced visual acuity due to ophthalmologic disorder can be found in the majority of patients. Clinical, psychopathological and pathogenetic aspects of the Charles Bonnet syndrome are discussed by the means of a review of 46 cases reported in the literature (including an own case observation).