Pseudodementia in a twenty-one-year-old with bipolar disorder and vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.
A twenty-one-year-old female known to suffer from bipolar type I disorder developed features of a pseudodementia. Following prompt initial response to treatment with antidepressants, there was an early recurrence of cognitive impairment. Blood investigations confirmed a macrocytic anaemia and vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies. There was dramatic resolution of cognitive impairment after vitamin replacement. This suggested the occurrence of a reversible nutritional dementia and reinforced the need to rule out secondary organic causes of psychiatric symptoms even in patients previously diagnosed with a primary psychiatric disorder.
Reid
S D
SD
Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. reid@carib-link.net
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12