More q's - Schizophrenia or an organic disorder

[Naomi]

Thank you for your reply. I know what schiophrenia is. I read more about this disease in the past 2 month than on any other disease in my life. I also received a lot of information about related diseases - mental ( such as bpd) and physical (such as temporal lobe problems) My questions were, and still remain as follows:

1. Is there any known organic disorder ( for example - temporal lobe epilepsy ) that can cause symptoms like I described in my post "Schizophrenia or an organic disorder?" dated 10/10/99 for the duration I described, assuming blood tests and urine tests are normal and no neurological or any other physical symptoms are present to imply such an organic disorder?

2. does hearing voices inside the head - i.e. with no illusion of hearing them as an actual sound - concidered hallucination? If so, how can one make the difference between a so called
"inner monolog" to an actual illness?

3. During my quest for knowledge I noticed some inconsistency between DSM IV and the common opinion of most doctors: visual hallucinations are marked as a diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in DSM IV while most medical providers state that visual hallucinations almost positively suggest an organic disorder... can you explain this inconsistency to me?

4. Regarding my previous post "Schizophrenia or an organic disorder?" dated 10/10/99 - here is some more additional information:
a. there is a history of schizophrenia in our family (my grand mother)
b. No head trauma of any kind was experienced by me
c. No complications during my mother's pregnancy, nor during my birth

Given these facts, is it wise for a doctor to still insist I have an organic disorder or should he at least consider the possibility of schizophrenia?

Thank you for your attention

Me (and sorry for that).

[HFHS M.D.-SW]

Dear Naomi,


Schizophrenia is a devastating but manageable mental illness. As you are aware schizophrenia consists of characteristic symptoms such as delusions,hallucinations and social dysfunction.
From the information in your current and past letters, your illness is more likely due to schizophrenia, which is a brain disease, rather than due tosome other organic factor.
In response to your questions:
1- There are a number (too long to list here) of medical condition that may mimic some of the signs and symptoms of schizophrenia. When medical and laboratory work up are negative, one must consider a mental illness.
2- There is a difference between an inner monolog (talking to oneself or thinking out loud) and auditory hallucinations. Simple auditory hallucinations are involuntary, can not be stopped, they make be command(telling us to do something), they may not be our own voice.
3- In general, auditory hallucination may be considered part of a mental disorder.  Auditory are more common than visual in schizophrenia. Visual hallucinations may occur in many types of psychotic disorders.  They do not always indicate an organic etiology, although this should always be considered, but estimates have been as high as 30% of schizophrenics
may have visual hallucinations.
4- I have not examined you, nor taken a complete history. Considering your presenting history and your family history of schizophrenia, you may be suffering from schizophrenia. It would be unlikely for temporal lobe epilepsy to present in this fashion with this chronic course and symptoms.
You may consider a second opinion, in order to address your concerns.

Best Wishes.

Sincerely,

HFHS M.D.-SW

[Elinor]

What exactly are Organic Hallocinations, and do they have something to do with dementia

[Mary]

my sister says she is hearing a voice in her right ear. she is being treated with antipsychotic drugs. I need to know more about the whole subject or aurul hallucinations is this is what it is.

[Christina]

I always hear of auditory hallucinations being voices.  I started hearing things recently.  At first I thought it was because I was alone in the townhouse and I could just hear the neighbors talking or their tv's or stereo's playing.  But when I would get up to where I thought the sounds were coming from they would move or stop.  It started to get worse, increasing during the day and even began to happen during the day and outside of my home.  It got to the point that it would be music, like a radio station or just a certain song playing over and over.  I would follow the sounds to my dryer, vents and to the inside of the frig and coming from my computer.  Then it started outside like I could hear faintly someone steros as I went to my vehicle; but once inside my vehicle I would hear music but the radio was not on.  It eventually made it my job coming out of the ceiling vents.  I don't know what started this.  I know that since my husband went out of town I haven't been sleeping good at all; up all night sometimes.  But I don't know if the sleep deprivation caused this of if this caused the sleep deprivation.
Has anyone heard of this?
Two days ago I noticed a patterns with the songs.  Like I was looking for a box and started going through one that had x-mas stuff in it.  Next thing I know a Elivs Christmas song was being played through the vent.  Later, after scanning some pictures of my husband and I to send to him, I walked outside and it was windy.  The closer I got to my truck the louder I could here, "Take Me Home, Country Road", by John Denver.  This is one of my husbands favorite singers and the song fit the occasion.  
What am I doing to myself?  What is happening?  How can I stop it?
Last night I was so scared and knew that if I could maybe get some sleep it would stop.  I took some Sominex to see if that would help.  For the first night in many, Iwas able to get some sleep.  No music while I got up for work and only a small amount did I here through the vent in my office at work.
I thought for sure I had killed it, but it is still faintly there.  If sleep deprivation is what brought this on, does that mean now that any time I start to get tired it is going to kick in.
PLEASE HELP ME
Christina