NEUROPSYCHIATRIC FACTORS IN THE ILLUSION OF VISITORS AMONG GERIATRIC-PATIENTS - A CASE SERIES

The 'illusion of visitors' is a common phenomenon among geriatric pati ents presenting for psychiatric or neurologic evaluation and treatment . Although these illusory beliefs are etiologically diverse, patients may commonly have visual impairment and functional and/or structural d isruption of frontal and right-hemisphere-mediated cognitive functioni ng. This article outlines eight cases of illusory beliefs among elderl y patients, presenting psychiatric, neurologic, neuroimaging, and neur opsychological findings among these patients. Commonalities and differ ences among these cases are discussed, and a framework is provided for multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of patients presenting wit h illusory beliefs.