Psychiatric Symptomatology in Visual Snow Syndrome
Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS) is a relatively unknown and understudied neurological condition that causes individuals to perceive tiny, constantly flickering specks across their entire visual field. Though some previous research has suggested a link between VSS and anxiety and depression (Solly et al., 2021), more investigation is needed to understand potential differences in mental health symptoms in VSS. This study sought to determine whether a sample of individuals with VSS (n = 61) exhibit differences in symptoms of depression, anxiety, hostility, and total scores on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), compared with controls (n = 40). This study also explored whether these differences exist in Unusual Sensory Experiences (USEs) assessed using the Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire (MUSEQ). Results from this analysis showed significantly elevated symptom scores across BPRS measures and in visual USE scores in individuals with VSS, but no significant differences between visual and auditory scores within the VSS group. Further research on differences within specific symptoms and sensory domains would be beneficial. Additionally, future analyses could control for factors like migraine which are more prevalent among individuals with VSS.