Researchers from the University of Cambridge and King’s College London have found that increased nightmares and hallucinations may signal the onset of autoimmune diseases like lupus. Credit: SciTechDaily.com
They emphasize the importance of recognizing these mental health and neurological symptoms as early warning signs of an impending ‘flare,’ a phase during which the disease intensifies temporarily.today , researchers surveyed 676 people living with lupus and 400 clinicians, and also carried out detailed interviews with 69 people living with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and 50 clinicians. Lupus is an autoimmune inflammatory disease known for its effect on many organs including the brain.
The study interviewers found that using the term ‘daymares’ to talk about hallucinations often led to a ‘lightbulb’ moment for patients, and they felt that it was a less frightening and stigmatized word. The importance of recognizing these symptoms was highlighted by reports that some patients had initially been misdiagnosed or even hospitalized with a psychotic episode and/or suicidal ideation, which was only later found to be the first sign of their autoimmune disease.