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Advancements in technology have made it possible to see what people with schizophrenia have to deal with when they see facial distortions on other people.

Computer-generated images now provide insight into the visual experiences of individuals with prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), a rare neurological disorder usually found in schizophrenic people that causes distorted perceptions of faces, colloquially termed "demon face" syndrome.

In a recent study at Dartmouth College, a 58-year-old man with a 31-month history of seeing distorted facial features underwent assessment, leading to a diagnosis of PMO.

Despite a history of bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, the patient's distorted perceptions did not extend to facial images on screens or paper.

The patient described facial features as severely stretched, with deep grooves, yet he could still recognize individuals without harboring delusional beliefs about their identities.

Notably, the onset of his symptoms followed a significant head injury at age 43 and possible carbon monoxide poisoning at age 55.

Researchers, utilizing feedback from the patient, employed photo editing software to recreate the distorted facial perceptions, yielding rough images that reflect the patient's subjective experiences.

Lead author Antonio Vitor Reis Goncalves Mello emphasized the study's potential to raise awareness of PMO's severity and impact.

"We hope this has a big impact in the way people think about PMO, especially for them to be able to understand how severe PMO can be," Antonio Vitor Reis Goncalves Mello said, the Independent reported.

These findings shed light on the complexity of PMO's etiology and underscore the need for enhanced recognition and management within the medical community.

By providing tangible insights into the challenges faced by individuals with PMO, this research aims to foster empathy and support for affected individuals.

As PMO continues to puzzle researchers, interdisciplinary collaboration and ongoing research efforts are crucial for advancing diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic interventions.

The study's collaboration with Dartmouth College highlights the importance of compassionate and informed support in navigating the complexities of neurological disorders.

"We've heard from multiple people with PMO that they have been diagnosed by psychiatrists as having schizophrenia and put on anti-psychotics, when their condition is a problem with the visual system," said Brad Duchaine, senior study author and principal investigator of the Social Perception Lab at Dartmouth University, UPI reported.

The study's findings offer valuable insights into the subjective experiences of individuals with PMO, urging for greater understanding and support for those affected by this rare neurological condition.