Observational studyPsychological medicine2018
Isolated psychosis during exposure to very high and extreme altitude - characterisation of a new medical entity.
Observational study in Psychological medicine, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed.
- Longitudinal assessment of retinal and visual pathway electrophysiology and structure after high altitude exposure.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2025Article
- Psychotomimetic compensation versus sensitization.Pharmacology research & perspectives · 2024Review
- Oxygen and the Spark of Human Brain Evolution: Complex Interactions of Metabolism and Cortical Expansion across Development and Evolution.The Neuroscientist : a review journal bringing neurobiology, neurology and psychiatry · 2024Article
- Acute mountain sickness predicts the emotional state of amateur mountaineers.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- AZU1 (HBP/CAP37) and PRKCG (PKC-gamma) may be candidate genes affecting the severity of acute mountain sickness.BMC medical genomics · 2023Article
- Acute Mountain Sickness and the Risk of Subsequent Psychiatric Disorders-A Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Article
- Isolated high altitude psychosis, delirium at high altitude, and high altitude cerebral edema: are these diagnoses valid?Frontiers in psychiatry · 2023Article
- Editorial: Neurological, neurophysiological, psychological and psychiatric effects of high altitude and hypoxia.Frontiers in physiology · 2023Article
- Cognition and Neuropsychological Changes at Altitude-A Systematic Review of Literature.Brain sciences · 2022Review
- The changes of electroencephalography in mountaineers on Mount Jade, Taiwan: An observational study.PloS one · 2022Observational
- Assessment of Psychotic Symptoms in Individuals Exposed to Very High or Extreme Altitude: A Field Study.High altitude medicine & biology · 2021Article
- Pivotal mental states.Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2021Review
- Recommendations for traveling to altitude with neurological disorders.Journal of central nervous system disease · 2021Review
- Going to Altitude with a Preexisting Psychiatric Condition.High altitude medicine & biology · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPsychotic episodes during exposure to very high or extreme altitude have been frequently reported in mountain literature, but not systematically analysed and acknowledged as a distinct clinical entity.
methodsEpisodes reported above 3500 m altitude with possible psychosis were collected from the lay literature and provide the basis for this observational study. Dimensional criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders were used for psychosis, and the Lake Louise Scoring criteria for acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE). Eighty-three of the episodes collected underwent a cluster analysis to identify similar groups. Ratings were done by two independent, trained researchers (κ values 0.6-1).FindingsCluster 1 included 51% (42/83) episodes without psychosis; cluster 2 22% (18/83) cases with psychosis, plus symptoms of HACE or mental status change from other origins; and cluster 3 28% (23/83) episodes with isolated psychosis. Possible risk factors of psychosis and associated somatic symptoms were analysed between the three clusters and revealed differences regarding the factors 'starvation' (χ2 test, p = 0.002), 'frostbite' (p = 0.024) and 'supplemental oxygen' (p = 0.046). Episodes with psychosis were reversible but associated with near accidents and accidents (p = 0.007, odds ratio 4.44).
conclusionsEpisodes of psychosis during exposure to high altitude are frequently reported, but have not been specifically examined or assigned to medical diagnoses. In addition to the risk of suffering from somatic mountain illnesses, climbers and workers at high altitude should be aware of the potential occurrence of psychotic episodes, the associated risks and respective coping strategies.
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