LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Psychotic mania as the solitary manifestation of neurosyphilis

Photo by patrickperkins from unsplash

BackgroundNeurosyphilis remains a diagnostic challenge in current psychiatric practice because of its pleomorphic psychiatric manifestations. Although neurosyphilis can present with a wide range of psychiatric symptoms, psychotic mania as its… Click to show full abstract

BackgroundNeurosyphilis remains a diagnostic challenge in current psychiatric practice because of its pleomorphic psychiatric manifestations. Although neurosyphilis can present with a wide range of psychiatric symptoms, psychotic mania as its solitary manifestation is an unusual phenomenon.Case presentationA 46-year-old man, with no history of any psychiatric disorder, exhibited abruptly developed symptoms of psychotic mania. He was admitted to a psychiatric ward for further evaluation and treatment. Upon admission, his cognitive function was unimpaired, and the hyperactivity was not severe. Also, no abnormalities were found upon neurological examination and brain magnetic resonance imaging. He was initially diagnosed as bipolar disorder with psychotic features. On the 3rd day after admission, he was confirmed as having neurosyphilis by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and treated with intravenous penicillin—in combination with blonanserin—an atypical antipsychotic drug. After 2 weeks of treatment, most of the symptoms had abated.ConclusionsThe present case emphasizes that patients presenting with atypical psychiatric manifestation should be screened for possible syphilis, particularly in the absence of previous psychiatric history, and suggests that combination of blonanserin with antibiotic therapy may be effective in the treatment of the manic and psychotic symptoms secondary to neurosyphilis.

Keywords: manifestation neurosyphilis; mania solitary; solitary manifestation; psychotic mania; mania

Journal Title: Annals of General Psychiatry
Year Published: 2018

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.