Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population
Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the nature of subclinical Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS). We sought to develop a means of recruiting naïve participants with subclinical VSS symptoms to participate in research; and to understand whether subclinical VSS symptoms are stable across time....
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52228 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850249858971074560 |
|---|---|
| author | Amy Claire Thompson Patrick T. Goodbourn Jason D. Forte |
| author_facet | Amy Claire Thompson Patrick T. Goodbourn Jason D. Forte |
| author_sort | Amy Claire Thompson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the nature of subclinical Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS). We sought to develop a means of recruiting naïve participants with subclinical VSS symptoms to participate in research; and to understand whether subclinical VSS symptoms are stable across time. VSS is a recently characterised neurological condition, whose primary symptom is visual snow (dynamic noise in the visual field). There is evidence that VSS may be common in the general population and that it is unnoticed by many who experience it. To fully characterise VSS, it is important to understand whether (and how) subclinical VSS progresses to a clinical form. Methods Here, we present two related studies: Study 1 develops and validates the Melbourne Visual Snow Questionnaire (MVSQ), a tool for screening the general population for VSS symptoms; and Study 2 investigates the stability of subclinical VSS. We developed the MVSQ based on the results of other recent work investigating undiagnosed cases of VSS, and a validated questionnaire designed to identify people with tinnitus for research participation. We then tested the MVSQ in a population with clinical VSS, including assessing face validity (i.e., the extent to which people with clinical VSS believed the questionnaire accurately captured their symptoms). In Study 2, we deployed the MVSQ in a naïve sample of 155 participants, who completed the MVSQ twice, 6 weeks apart. Results The results of Study 1 indicated that the MVSQ was a viable method of recruiting people who experience VSS symptoms for research participation. It was deemed to have appropriate face validity and to pose little burden to those who completed it. In Study 2, VSS symptoms changed substantially across a 6‐week period. Cohen's weighted kappa for diagnosis was 0.56, 95% CI [0.43, 0.69]. However, the impact of perceptual experiences was low and did not change over time, rank ICC = 0.71, 95% CI [0.59, 0.82]. Interpretation The MVSQ is appropriate for assessing perceptual experiences in the general population. Determining the exact time scale across which symptoms fluctuate is important for understanding both clinical and subclinical cases of VSS. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c71f116729874e69b8b41ab3bbd555ee |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-9503 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c71f116729874e69b8b41ab3bbd555ee2025-08-20T01:58:23ZengWileyAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology2328-95032024-12-0111123205321410.1002/acn3.52228Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve populationAmy Claire Thompson0Patrick T. Goodbourn1Jason D. Forte2Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences University of Melbourne Parkville AustraliaMelbourne School of Psychological Sciences University of Melbourne Parkville AustraliaMelbourne School of Psychological Sciences University of Melbourne Parkville AustraliaAbstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the nature of subclinical Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS). We sought to develop a means of recruiting naïve participants with subclinical VSS symptoms to participate in research; and to understand whether subclinical VSS symptoms are stable across time. VSS is a recently characterised neurological condition, whose primary symptom is visual snow (dynamic noise in the visual field). There is evidence that VSS may be common in the general population and that it is unnoticed by many who experience it. To fully characterise VSS, it is important to understand whether (and how) subclinical VSS progresses to a clinical form. Methods Here, we present two related studies: Study 1 develops and validates the Melbourne Visual Snow Questionnaire (MVSQ), a tool for screening the general population for VSS symptoms; and Study 2 investigates the stability of subclinical VSS. We developed the MVSQ based on the results of other recent work investigating undiagnosed cases of VSS, and a validated questionnaire designed to identify people with tinnitus for research participation. We then tested the MVSQ in a population with clinical VSS, including assessing face validity (i.e., the extent to which people with clinical VSS believed the questionnaire accurately captured their symptoms). In Study 2, we deployed the MVSQ in a naïve sample of 155 participants, who completed the MVSQ twice, 6 weeks apart. Results The results of Study 1 indicated that the MVSQ was a viable method of recruiting people who experience VSS symptoms for research participation. It was deemed to have appropriate face validity and to pose little burden to those who completed it. In Study 2, VSS symptoms changed substantially across a 6‐week period. Cohen's weighted kappa for diagnosis was 0.56, 95% CI [0.43, 0.69]. However, the impact of perceptual experiences was low and did not change over time, rank ICC = 0.71, 95% CI [0.59, 0.82]. Interpretation The MVSQ is appropriate for assessing perceptual experiences in the general population. Determining the exact time scale across which symptoms fluctuate is important for understanding both clinical and subclinical cases of VSS.https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52228 |
| spellingShingle | Amy Claire Thompson Patrick T. Goodbourn Jason D. Forte Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology |
| title | Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population |
| title_full | Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population |
| title_fullStr | Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population |
| title_short | Visual Snow Syndrome is unstable: A longitudinal investigation of VSS symptoms in a Naïve population |
| title_sort | visual snow syndrome is unstable a longitudinal investigation of vss symptoms in a naive population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52228 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT amyclairethompson visualsnowsyndromeisunstablealongitudinalinvestigationofvsssymptomsinanaivepopulation AT patricktgoodbourn visualsnowsyndromeisunstablealongitudinalinvestigationofvsssymptomsinanaivepopulation AT jasondforte visualsnowsyndromeisunstablealongitudinalinvestigationofvsssymptomsinanaivepopulation |