Mind's eye: a case of out-of-body experiences

J Clin Sleep Med. 2012 Aug 15;8(4):445-6. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.2044.

Abstract

Out-of-body experiences are the phenomena of seeing the image of one's body from an external perspective. We report the case of a patient affected by psychophysiological insomnia who presents hallucinatory phenomenon, successfully treated with haloperidol.We hypothesize that these hallucinations during psychophysiological insomnia are expression of an alteration of specific neurocognitive networks that regulate the cognitive arousal systems.

Keywords: Out-of-body experiences; dreaming; psychophysiological insomnia; sleep assessment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Body Image
  • Female
  • Hallucinations / ethnology*
  • Hallucinations / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / complications
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders / physiopathology
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / complications*
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / physiopathology