Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

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Article initiated by:

Pranessh Ravi, MS, Smita.vittal

All contributors:

Nagham Al-Zubidi, MD, Pranessh Ravi, MS, M. Tariq Bhatti, MD

Assigned editor:

M. Tariq Bhatti, MD

Review:

Assigned status Up to Date

 by M. Tariq Bhatti, MD on November 11, 2024.

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Contributing Editors:	add

Disease Entity

Alice in wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a disorder of visual perception. It was inculcated into medical literature by Lipmann in 1952, where he described it as an impairment of time, sense and body image. Symptoms are similar to those perceived by the character in the book (Alice in wonderland) by Lewis Caroll.

Etiology

AIWS is a rare neuro-ophthalmological entity with varied causes. No large epidemiological data has been published yet. The possible and common causes are listed below. Migraine is the most common cause followed by Infections principally by Epstein Barr virus.

1. Migraine
2. Epilepsy
3. Hypnotic states
4. Drug intoxication (e.g. lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana)
5. Fever
6. Cerebral lesions
7. Schizophrenia
8. Infectious mononucleosis
9. Encephalopathy by coxsackievirus , H1N1 influenza, borrelia burgdorferi, scarlet fever, typhoid fever,
10. Toxic encephalopathy

Type	Disease
Central nervous system pathologies	migraine, temporal lobe epilepsy, trauma associated encephalopathy, tumor, aneurysm, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis
Psychiatric disorders	schizophrenia, depressive syndrome, derealization/depersonalization disorder
Infectious diseases	Lyme disease, shigellosis, Epstein Barr virus, coxsackievirus, H1N1 influenza virus, cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus
Medications	montelukast, dextromethorphan, topiramate, risperidone
Psychoactive substances	Marijuana, LSD, cocaine ,amantia muscarim

Pathophysiology

The temporo-parieto-occipital (TPO) junction is where the visual and somatosensory information is integrated to generate the inner and external representation of self. Other complex perception can be perceived by the patient if other areas of the brain are involved, evolving into complex somatosensory disorder. AIWS has been attributed to the migrainous cortical dysfunction of the non-dominant parietal lobe.

Studies have shown that electrical stimulation of the parietal lobe leads to distortion in the size and length of the image perceived. Decreased perfusion to the non-dominant parietal lobe during an attack leads to perception of symptoms.Usually symptoms of AIWS can precede or accompany a migraine attack.

Diagnosis

Symptoms

1. Metamorphopsia - visual distortions
2. Macropsia - seeing images larger than normal
3. Micropsia – seeing images smaller than normal
4. Achromatopsia – inability to perceive color
5. Teleopsia – seeing farther than normal
6. Pelopsia – seeing closer than normal
7. Visual hallucinations
8. Partial/total body macro/micro-matognosia
9. Quick-motion phenomenon
10. Dysmorphopsia – lines and contours appearing wavy
11. Feeling of derealization, depersonalization, somatopsychic duality
12. Alteration in judgement of time

Micropsia and Telopsia are the most common symptoms.

Distortion of self-image as shown in the book "Alice in wonderland"

Proposed classification of symptoms in AIWS

Types	Obligatory symptoms	Facultative symptoms
A	Aschematia:partial or total macrosomatognosia or microsomatognosia; paraschematia	Derealization, depersonalization, somatopsychic duality, aberration in judgement of time
B	Macro- and micropsia and/or tele- and pelopsia. When micropsia and telopsia appear at the same time and for the same object:porropsia Lilliputianism (people appearing smaller)
C	Type A + type B symptoms

Clinical diagnosis

Diagnostic criteria for migraine associated with AIWS are:

1. One or more episodes of self-experienced body schema illusion or metamorphopsia
2. Duration < 30 min
3. Accompanied by headache or a history of migraine
4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and electroencephalogram (EEG) all normal. However, visual evoked potentials may be abnormal

Lanska and Lanska proposed that AIWS can be divided into pure Alice in wonderland (inter-personal) and AIWS (extra-personal), with the latter being more common.

Diagnostic procedures

MRI and EEG maybe needed to exclude a structural cause but as mentioned in the diagnostic criteria above are normal.

Management

Treatment

AIWS is typically a self-limiting condition. Treatment of the migraine can alleviate AIWS symptoms. Antipsychotics have also been tried.

Prognosis

AIWS has no age predilection, but is most commonly seen in children and adolescents. Prognosis usually depends upon the underlying mechanism and should be treated appropriately.