508 - LATE ONSET BIPOLAR DISORDER: CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Background:Late-onset bipolar disorder (LOBD) remains an incompletely understood nosological entity, in reason of its complexity and the paucity of research in this issue. It is not yet clear whether LOBD is a “phenocopy” of the classic early-onset bipolar disorder (EOBD), sharing symptoms but having a different aetiology, or whether both have a common underlying vulnerability that interacts with age-specific triggering factors. Some authors have proposed that LOBD is a heterogeneous entity, comprising secondary mania (including organic brain disease), bipolarity in the context of dementia-like processes (BD type VI), and LOBD as expression of a lower vulnerability to bipolarity.Case Report:Female patient with previous medical history of hypertension and dyslipidaemia, and psychiatric history of recurrent severe depressive episodes since early age, with melancholic and psychotic features, had a first hypomanic episode at 76 years-old, under treatment with tricyclic antidepressant and electroconvulsive therapy. Meanwhile, she suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) complicated with subdural and subarachnoid hematoma, as well as intraventricular haemorrhage, which is an indirect sign of diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Later, at 79 years-old, she presented a mixed episode characterized by racing thoughts, flight of ideas, non-systematized persecutory and ruin delusions, hyposomnia, and ultradian alternation between dysphoric and depressive mood, psychomotor agitation and retardation, emotional lability, hypersyntonic contact and hostility. Medical conditions that could account for secondary mania were ruled out. This clinical picture subsided within few weeks under treatment with olanzapine and electroconvulsive therapy. After recovery memory deficits were noticed.Concluding remarks:This case illustrates a “latent” BD, in a patient with previous recurrent depressive disorder, manifesting the first episode of mania in late life. Several triggering factors may have contributed to this longitudinal evolution, lowering the threshold to manifest mania, namely cerebrovascular risk factors, a possible underlying degenerative process and DAI secondary to TBI, which through structural dysconnectivity also contributes to cognitive dysfunction. The deleterious effect of recurrent and severe depressive episodes on cognition is well documented. The question of whether some forms of LOBD could constitute a special risk factor for developing dementia deserves further investigation.

Manic-like presentation with an organic aetiology

A 57-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and no prior psychiatric history presented repeatedly over 6 months with mental and behavioural changes. Laboratory tests, chest X-ray and sleep study diagnosed an infective exacerbation of COPD, type II respiratory failure and OSA. Differential diagnoses included delirium, primary mania in bipolar affective disorder or organic pathology causing secondary mania. Oxygen, steroids, bronchodilators, antibiotics and non-invasive ventilation were administered to treat his infection and respiratory failure. However, blood gas analysis showed persistent hypoxia and hypercarbia, aggravating his ongoing mental state disturbance that required security supervision and sedation with antipsychotics and benzodiazepines. Sudden onset of classic manic symptoms and multiple presentations suggested secondary mania, driven by chronic hypoxia in end-stage COPD and OSA. The challenge was establishing a balance between mental state control and treatment of physical illness.

Late-onset mania associated with corticosteroids and small cell lung carcinoma

Episodes of mania typically occur in the context of bipolar disorder, with an average age of onset of 25 years. A condition with identical symptoms, known as secondary mania, generally occurs in isolation in older adults and has an identifiable organic etiology. Here, we report a 57-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a 3 weeks history of sudden onset mania with psychotic symptoms. He had no previous psychiatric history, and his presentation coincided with the initiation of a course of steroids. Despite the absence of physical symptoms, investigations revealed a previously undetected adrenocorticotropic hormone-releasing small cell lung carcinoma that led to his death within months. This case highlights the complexity of distinguishing primary from secondary mania when it occurs after the peak incidence period of early adulthood. Undertaking a comprehensive medical workup is generally recommended.

A rare presentation of acute hyperglycemia with secondary mania: a case report

This case report aims to highlight the diagnostic challenges in consultation-liaison psychiatry in case of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Author report the case of a 60-year-old male who presented to the Psychiatry OPD with first episode of mania. Although hypoglycaemia is known to be associated with multiple psychiatric manifestations, the incidence of psychiatric symptoms and disorders in association with hyperglycaemia is not well reported. This case report highlights the rare presentation of secondary mania in a patient with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.