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Julie A E Christensen

2 papers in the library · 4 citations · publishing 2019-2022

Papers

To treat or not to treat? High-potency benzodiazepine use in a case of comorbid hallucinogen persisting perception disorder and alcohol use disorder.

Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology September 1, 2022 Julie A E Christensen, David C. Fipps, J Michael Bostwick 4 citations

Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) causes visual disturbances that resemble psychedelic intoxication and persist after drug use stops. A 37-year-old man with a history of alcohol, cannabis, LSD, cocaine, and nicotine use disorders experienced visual distortions—such as halos around objects, moving walls, and cartoonish figures—for over 20 years after his last LSD use. He understood these perceptions were not real. Hospital tests, including head CT and EEG, found no other cause. His symptoms resolved with scheduled clonazepam treatment, though treatment programs were hesitant to accept him while on a benzodiazepine. The case highlights the need to distinguish HPPD from psychosis and to weigh risks and benefits of long-term benzodiazepine use for patients with co-occurring substance use disorders.

DOI: 10.1037/pha0000597 (opens in new tab) Psilocybin Lysergic acid diethylamide Cannabis Hallucinogen +6

Rapid eye movements are reduced in blind individuals.

Journal of Sleep Research December 1, 2019 Julie A E Christensen, Sébrina Aubin, Tore Nielsen et al.

Rapid eye movements (EMs) during REM sleep are not necessary for visual dream imagery. Blind individuals, both congenitally blind and late blind, showed significantly less eye movement coverage during wakefulness and all sleep stages compared to sighted controls. Late blind subjects reported more visual dream elements than congenitally blind subjects, yet both blind groups had similarly low eye movement activity. The near absence of nocturnal eye movements in late blind subjects, despite preserved visual dream content, does not support the hypothesis that REM sleep eye movements reflect visual scanning of dream imagery. Results indicate a dissociation between eye movements and visual dream content in blind individuals.

DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12866 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Dreaming Blindness Eye movements