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Visual hallucinations and severe anxiety in the ICU after surgery

Current Psychiatry. 2018 April;17(4):e1-e7
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After major surgery, Mr. B, age 42, has visual hallucinations of someone placing a drug in his IV line, and develops severe anxiety. What could be causing these symptoms?

Bottom Line

Akathisia is an elusive adverse effect of antipsychotics and can be misdiagnosed as anxiety. Close consideration should be given to potential medical, psychiatric, and drug-related etiologies in patients who have a prolonged medical course, comorbidities, and exposure to multiple pharmacologic agents.

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