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Anton's syndrome accompanying withdrawal hallucinosis in a blind alcoholic

From the Department of Neurology, Harlem Hospital Center and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY.

During alcohol withdrawal, a man totally blind following ocular trauma experienced formed visual hallucinations ("alcoholic hallucinosis"), the unreality of which he recognized. During these same periods, however, he believed that his vision had been restored, and confabulated descriptions of his surroundings (Anton's syndrome). He was otherwise mentally normal. Anosognosia for blindness can occur episodically or chronically, and with either peripheral or central visual loss; dementia nearly always coexists. The basis of the syndrome is obscure, and its occurrence during alcohol withdrawal, in association with readily acknowledged visual hallucinations and otherwise preserved mentation, has not been previously reported.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Brust, Department of Neurology, Harlem Hospital Center, 506 Lennox Ave., New York, NY 10037.

Accepted for publication November 18, 1983.