Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:1095-1097
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Sensory experiences during treatment of phobias by in vivo exposure
GC Curtis
The author describes several patients undergoing in vivo exposure therapy
for simple phobias who reported transient sensory distortions without other
evidence of psychosis. The experiences occurred mainly in the tactile,
kinesthetic, and visual modes. Their nature and significance are
undetermined, but they appear to resemble conversion symptoms, hypnotic
sensory distortions, and other nonpsychotic sensory experiences stimulated
by emotionally charged ideas.
