scholarly journals Trials and tribulations of diagnosing and managing psychosis secondary to non-convulsive epilepsy

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S114-S114
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Awara ◽  
Joshua Smalley ◽  
Matt Havenga ◽  
Manal Elnenaei
Keyword(s):  
Seizure Activity ◽  
Epileptic Activity ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Visual Hallucinations ◽  
Divalproex Sodium ◽  
Extensive Investigation ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Organic Psychosis ◽  
Course Of Illness ◽  
History Of

ObjectiveTo highlight the importance of reviewing diagnosis and management of refractory psychosis and to share that with the scientific community; and to also shed some light on the dilemma and challenges that professionals may face to diagnose and treat organic psychosis. In addition, to look at the possible similarity/dissimilarity in psychopathology between organic and primary psychosis and differences in opinions through presenting the history and course of illness of this patient.Case reportWe present the case of a 51-year-old female who had a 28-year history of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. She did not report or display any seizure activity, and an extensive investigation was unremarkable. The unusual nature of her psychopathology, which was predominantly visual hallucinations and somatic delusions, and the difficult to treat nature of her symptoms, prompted investigation with Electroencephalograph which demonstrated bilateral temporal lobe epileptic activity.DiscussionTreatment with divalproex sodium and discontinuation of antipsychotic medication achieved an excellent response, where her visual hallucinations and somatic delusions were both remarkably ameliorated.ConclusionThe differentiation between organic/secondary and functional/primary psychosis is an area of contention between psychiatrists and neurologists and also within each of these specialties.The myriad of psychopathology and associated treatment resistant psychotic symptoms that patients with non-convulsive epilepsy may experience should result in building a long desired bridge between neurology and psychiatry to collaborate in managing such cases.

scholarly journals A Case of Psychosis Due to Acute Hypocalcemia From Hypoparathyroidism

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A172-A173
Author(s):  
Joseph Theressa Nehu Parimi ◽  
John Chen Liu ◽  
Rajani Gundluru ◽  
Sowjanya Naha ◽  
Timur Gusov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Auditory Hallucinations ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Organic Psychosis ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Manifestations ◽  
History Of ◽  
Gait Abnormalities

Abstract A 61-year-old female with past medical history of depression, hypoparathyroidism (hypoPtH), and hypothyroidism had disappeared from her home and was found wandering a few hours away with persecutory delusions, visual and auditory hallucinations. Serum calcium (Ca) was 6.3 mg/dL (range 8.6–10.2), albumin 3.7 g/dL (range 3.5–5.2) and ionized Ca 0.89 mmol/L (range 1.12–1.30). She was admitted and treated with Ca and calcitriol. Work-up for altered mental status was negative except for hypocalcemia (hypoCa) and scattered bilateral basal ganglia calcifications (BGC) with cortical and subcortical frontal lobe calcifications on CT. Psychiatry diagnosed delirium due to hypoCa. Acute psychosis resolved once Ca levels improved. Diagnosis of idiopathic hypoPtH was in 1997. Her regimen included Ca citrate 1500mg daily and 10 mcg of Forteo twice daily. She had skipped her medications for at least 2 days prior to presentation. Her medical records revealed that she was seen for severe depression, progressive gait abnormalities, slowed movements, and imbalance, in 2015. CT scan and MRI brain showed BGC. Her son gave a history of multiple admissions for psychosis, violence, delusions with agitation, and wandering at times when the patient was hypoCa, which was diagnosed as schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatric disturbances are commonly associated with hypercalcemia. Review of literature found a few case reports of psychosis and hypoPtH 1,2 BGC is common in hypoPtH. Psychotic symptoms due to BGC include auditory hallucinations, delusions of influence, paranoid states, and complex perceptual distortions.3,5 HypoCa is associated with cognitive impairment. Neurological manifestations tend to improve with Ca correction, but psychiatric symptoms do not improve substantially.4,5 Further studies are needed in hypoPtH with BGC to appropriately diagnose organic psychosis. This is important in management of the vicious cycle of psychiatric illness leading to noncompliance resulting in psychosis. Prevention of BGC will play a key role. References: 1. Finan M, Axelband J. This is your brain on calcium: psychosis as the presentation of isolated hypoparathyroidism. Am J Emerg Med. 2014;32:945.e1-4. 2. Ang AW, Ko SM, Tan CH. Calcium, magnesium, and psychotic symptoms in a girl with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Psychosom Med. 1995;57:299–302. 3. Burns K, Brodaty H. Fahr’s disease and psychosis. In: Sachdev PS, Keshavan MS, editors. Secondary schizophrenia. Cambridge: Cambridge University; 2010. p. 358–66. 4. Maiti A, Chatterjee S. Neuropsychiatric manifestations and their outcomes in chronic hypocalcaemia. J Indian Med Assoc. 2013;111:174–7. 5. Amara A, Novais C, Coelho M, Silva A, Curral R, Brandao I, Torres A. Organic psychosis due to hypoparathyroidism in an older adult: a case report. Braz. J. Psychiatry; 2016; 38(4)

scholarly journals Clonazepam improves dopamine supersensitivity in a schizophrenia patient: a case report

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 113-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Fukai ◽  
Tetsu Hirosawa ◽  
Tetsuya Takahashi ◽  
Reizo Kaneda ◽  
Mitsuru Kikuchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Schizophrenia Patient ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Dopamine D2 Receptor ◽  
D2 Receptor ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Effective Option ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dopamine Supersensitivity ◽  
Malignant Catatonia

Dopamine supersensitivity is an important consideration for assessing treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The emergence of dopamine supersensitivity might be related to upregulation of dopamine D2 receptor, which engenders tolerance to antipsychotics, rebound psychosis, and tardive dyskinesia (TD). A 24-year-old man with a history of treatment-resistant schizophrenia was hospitalized for treatment of bone fracture sustained during a suicide attempt. After the operation, his clinical symptoms implied malignant catatonia. The patient discontinued antipsychotics without rebound psychosis under clonazepam treatment. His psychotic symptoms were controlled further with 24 mg/day aripiprazole without relapse or worsening. Clonazepam might be an effective option for the management of dopamine supersensitivity psychosis (DSP).

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis masquerading as asthma: case report

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-264
Author(s):  
Karim Mithani ◽  
Ying Meng ◽  
David Pinilla ◽  
Nova Thani ◽  
Kayee Tung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Function Tests ◽  
Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis ◽  
Inhaled Corticosteroid ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Methacholine Challenge ◽  
Airway Reactivity ◽  
Cervical Osteophytes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anterior Discectomy And Fusion ◽  
Asthma Case

A 52-year-old man with a 10-year history of treatment-resistant asthma presented with repeated exacerbations over the course of 10 months. His symptoms were not responsive to salbutamol or inhaled corticosteroid agents, and he developed avascular necrosis of his left hip as a result of prolonged steroid therapy. Physical examination and radiography revealed signs consistent with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), including a C7–T1 osteophyte causing severe tracheal compression. The patient underwent C6–T1 anterior discectomy and fusion, and the compressive osteophyte was removed, which completely resolved his “asthma.” Postoperative pulmonary function tests showed normalization of his FEV1/FVC ratio, and there was no airway reactivity on methacholine challenge. DISH is a systemic, noninflammatory condition characterized by ossification of spinal entheses, and it can present with respiratory disturbances due to airway compression by anterior cervical osteophytes. The authors present, to the best of their knowledge, the first documented case of asthma as a presentation of DISH.

Safety of a Clozapine Trial Following Quetiapine-Induced Leukopenia: A Case Report

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asma H. Almaghrebi
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Options ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Similar Reaction ◽  
Careful Monitoring ◽  
Treatment Resistant ◽  
Blood Cell Count ◽  
Antipsychotic Medications ◽  
Case Presentation ◽  
Clozapine Treatment ◽  
History Of

Background: The clozapine-derivative quetiapine has been shown in some cases to cause leukopenia and neutropenia. Case Presentation: We reported on a case of a young female diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. After failed trials of three antipsychotic medications and despite a history of quetiapineinduced leukopenia, clozapine treatment was introduced due to the severity of the patient’s symptoms, the limited effective treatment options, and a lack of guidelines on this issue. Result: Over a ten-week period of clozapine treatment at 700 mg per day, the patient developed agranulocytosis. Her white blood cell count sharply dropped to 1.6 &#215; 10<sup>9</sup> L, and her neutrophils decreased to 0.1 &#215; 10<sup>9</sup> L. There had been no similar reaction to her previous medications (carbamazepine, risperidone, and haloperidol). Conclusion: The safety of clozapine in a patient who has previously experienced leukopenia and neutropenia with quetiapine requires further investigation. Increased attention should be paid to such cases. Careful monitoring and slow titration are advisable.

Voltage-gated potassium channel limbic encephalitis presenting as functional cognitive impairment

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. e233179
Author(s):  
Eric Garrels ◽  
Fawziya Huq ◽  
Gavin McKay
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Potassium Channel ◽  
Limbic Encephalitis ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Differential Diagnoses ◽  
Visual Hallucinations ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
History Of ◽  
Impaired Cognition

Limbic encephalitis is often reported to present as seizures and impaired cognition with little focus on psychiatric presentations. In this case report, we present a 49-year-old man who initially presented to the Psychiatric Liaison Service with a several month history of confusion with the additional emergence of visual hallucinations and delusions. Due to the inconsistent nature of the symptoms in the context of a major financial stressor, a provisional functional cognitive impairment diagnosis was made. Investigations later revealed a positive titre of voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) antibodies, subtype leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1 accounting for his symptoms which dramatically resolved with steroids and immunoglobulins. This case highlighted the need for maintaining broad differential diagnoses in a patient presenting with unusual psychiatric symptoms.

Secondary psychotic symptoms in a patient with biphasic meningo-encephalitis

1993 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 325-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Modell ◽  
G Kurtz ◽  
F Müller-Spahn ◽  
E Schmölz
Keyword(s):  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Organic Psychosis ◽  
Acute Meningitis ◽  
Diagnostic Difficulties ◽  
Endogenous Psychosis ◽  
Catatonic Syndrome

SummaryWe report on the case of a patient who developed an acute meningitis and, after a period of about two weeks, without any neuropsychiatric problems, an acute paranoid-hallucinatory and catatonic syndrome. The symptomatology is discussed, in relation with the diagnostic difficulties of differentiating between a biphasic meningo-encephalitis with an organic psychosis or a first manifestation of an endogenous psychosis.

Effect of Marriage on Pre-existing Psychoses: A Convenient or Futile Solution for Severe Mental Disorders?

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 273-276
Author(s):  
Prakash B. Behere ◽  
Aniruddh P. Behere ◽  
Debolina Chowdhury ◽  
Amit B. Nagdive ◽  
Richa Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
Positive Family History ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Contractual Relationship ◽  
History Of ◽  
Paranoid Type

Marriage can be defined as the state of being united as spouses in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. The general population generally believes marriage to be a solution to mental illnesses. It can be agreed that mental disorders and marital issues have some relation. Parents of patients with psychoses expect that marriage is the solution to the illness and often approach doctors and seek validation about the success of the marriage of their mentally ill child, which is a guarantee no doctor can give in even normal circumstances. Evidence on sexual functioning in patients of psychosis is limited and needs further understanding. Studies show about 60%–70% women of the schizophrenia spectrum and illness to experience sexual difficulties. Based on available information, sexual dysfunction in population with psychosis can be attributed to a variety of psychosocial factors, ranging from the psychotic symptoms in itself to social stigma and institutionalization and also due to the antipsychotic treatment. Despite the decline in sexual activity and quality of life in general, it is very rarely addressed by both the treating doctor and by the patient themselves hence creating a lacuna in the patient’s care and availability of information regarding the illness’ pathophysiology. Patients become noncompliant with medications due to this undesirable effect and hence it requires to be given more attention during treatment. It was also found that paranoid type of schizophrenia patient had lower chances of separation than patients with other types of schizophrenia. The risk of relapse in cases with later age of onset of the disease, lower education, a positive family history of psychosis or a lower income increased more than other populations.

A young woman with visual hallucinations, delusions of persecution and a history of performing arson with possible three-generation Fahr disease

2010 ◽  
Vol 121 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shirahama ◽  
J. Akiyoshi ◽  
Y. Ishitobi ◽  
Y. Tanaka ◽  
J. Tsuru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Woman ◽  
Visual Hallucinations ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fahr Disease

Dynamic networks of psychotic symptoms in adults living in precarious housing or homelessness

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Andrea A. Jones ◽  
Kristina M. Gicas ◽  
Sara Mostafavi ◽  
Melissa L. Woodward ◽  
Olga Leonova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Psychotic Disorder ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Dynamic Networks ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Psychotic Symptoms ◽  
Network Measures ◽  
History Of ◽  
Precarious Housing

Abstract Background People living in precarious housing or homelessness have higher than expected rates of psychotic disorders, persistent psychotic symptoms, and premature mortality. Psychotic symptoms can be modeled as a complex dynamic system, allowing assessment of roles for risk factors in symptom development, persistence, and contribution to premature mortality. Method The severity of delusions, conceptual disorganization, hallucinations, suspiciousness, and unusual thought content was rated monthly over 5 years in a community sample of precariously housed/homeless adults (n = 375) in Vancouver, Canada. Multilevel vector auto-regression analysis was used to construct temporal, contemporaneous, and between-person symptom networks. Network measures were compared between participants with (n = 219) or without (n = 156) history of psychotic disorder using bootstrap and permutation analyses. Relationships between network connectivity and risk factors including homelessness, trauma, and substance dependence were estimated by multiple linear regression. The contribution of network measures to premature mortality was estimated by Cox proportional hazard models. Results Delusions and unusual thought content were central symptoms in the multilevel network. Each psychotic symptom was positively reinforcing over time, an effect most pronounced in participants with a history of psychotic disorder. Global connectivity was similar between those with and without such a history. Greater connectivity between symptoms was associated with methamphetamine dependence and past trauma exposure. Auto-regressive connectivity was associated with premature mortality in participants under age 55. Conclusions Past and current experiences contribute to the severity and dynamic relationships between psychotic symptoms. Interrupting the self-perpetuating severity of psychotic symptoms in a vulnerable group of people could contribute to reducing premature mortality.

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