Complex Hallucinations in Hospitalized Rehabilitation Patients With COVID-19.
Mari Tobita, Shan-Pin Fanchiang, Aida Saldivar and 2 others
PMID 36277732WHAT IT FOUND
Eight of 37 post-COVID-19 rehab patients had hallucinations, all requiring ventilation.
Their experiences were vivid visual scenes with fear and comfort themes. All returned home with functional gain after conventional interdisciplinary rehab.
Key findings
01Eight of 37 post-COVID-19 rehabilitation patients had hallucinations, and all eight required mechanical ventilation.
02Seven patients had complex visual hallucinations, and four patients had an auditory component.
03All eight patients with hallucinations were discharged home with overall functional gain and improvement in neurologic complications.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was small, with 37 patients and only 8 patients with hallucinations. It was retrospective and relied on clinical documentation, so hallucinations may have been under-reported. The patients came from one public hospital serving underserved populations, so the findings may not apply broadly. Standardized psychological assessments of cognition, depression, and anxiety were not used systematically. All patients with hallucinations had critical illness and mechanical ventilation, so the study cannot separate those factors.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that COVID-19 directly caused the hallucinations. The study cannot separate the effects of critical illness, mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, medications, and other complications.