As of: April 2, 2024, 5:00 p.m
By: Judith Braun
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Prosopometamorphopsia is a vision disorder. Those affected are often incorrectly diagnosed with a psychiatric illness.
Prosopometamorphopsia (PMO) is a rare disease in which sufferers perceive other people's faces in a distorted manner. A team of researchers from Dartmouth College in the US used a 58-year-old patient to visualize the grimaces he described as “demonic”. In this way, even those who are not affected gain insight into the subjective visual impairment, which leads to a distorted perception of the environment.
Prosopometamorphopsia: Those affected see other people's faces as demon faces
Prosopometamorphopsia patients perceive other people's faces as demonic grimaces. © Cavan Images/IMAGO
The scientists published the visualizations in an article in the journal
The Lancet
. Compared to healthy people, the 58-year-old affected person sees faces that resemble gnomes or other fantasy creatures from fantasy films. The eyes and mouth areas appear greatly elongated and the faces have wrinkles like deep furrows in areas of the face where none can be seen. However, the expression of PMO differs from person to person. The shape, color, position and size of the facial features would vary. The duration of the symptoms also varies: they can only occur for days, weeks or even years.
The researchers were able to achieve such a visualization for the first time, as the disorder in the patient examined in the study only appeared in the face of other people and not in pictures of people. The patient is said to have confirmed that the images of the grimacing faces manipulated using a computer correspond to his perceptions. According to lead author Antônio Mello, PMO patients in other studies were unable to evaluate how accurately the visualizations represent what they see because, unlike the 58-year-old patient, they also perceive faces in images as distorted.
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New study on prosopometamorphopsia aims to raise public awareness of vision loss
The very rare symptoms of this patient offered the scientists a “unique opportunity”. The results of the study should help in the future in the treatment of impaired perception of others and in their diagnosis. Those affected are often initially incorrectly diagnosed with schizophrenia and are prescribed psychotropic medication. However, PMO is a disorder of the visual system. Many of those affected are also afraid to confide in others about their problem because they are often suspected of suffering from a psychiatric illness. The scientists' aim with their study is therefore to raise public awareness of PMO.
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This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.