title: [Behavioural problems and personality change related to cerebral amyloid angiopathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) belongs to the group of amyloidoses that are characterized by the deposition of insoluble and tissue-damaging amyloid proteins. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is the common clinical presentation of CAA resulting from the degenerative effect of beta amyloid on the cerebral vascular system. Though CAA is rather a neurological disease psychiatric symptoms can occur and even dominate the clinical picture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case report is presented in order to illustrate the association between CAA and psychiatric symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report the case of a 54-year-old female patient with radiologic references to a probable CAA and mild cognitive impairment who developed behavioural difficulties and personality change that necessitated a psychiatric treatment. Psychiatric symptoms were most likely due to CAA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAA can be associated with psychiatric symptoms and hence should be considered in the treatment of elderly patients with behavioural problems or personality changes. Diagnostic neuroimaging and examination of cerebrospinal fluid is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie III, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Ulm. maximilian.gahr@uni-ulm.de
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gahr
authors.forename: Bernhard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Connemann
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schönfeldt-Lecuona
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010343:Patient Admission; D010359:Patient Readmission; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs