title: Psychosis in neurosyphilis -- clinical aspects and implications.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization estimates that 10-12 million new syphilis infections occur each year. Without treatment, years to decades after initial infection, 30% of affected individuals may develop tertiary syphilis, which can manifest as neurosyphilis. The aim of this review is to evaluate the research literature examining the psychopathological manifestations of psychosis in association with neurosyphilis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed a systematic electronic search for published studies (1995-2012). The following databases were used: Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library as well as the search engines Scopus and Google Scholar.
  
  
  RESULTS
  61 articles were used for detailed analysis. Psychotic symptoms due to neurosyphilis are numerous and can inform differential diagnosis for many psychotic manifestations according to ICD-10 or DSM-IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to our results, current epidemiological data, and the difficulties in differential diagnosis of neurosyphilis, routine screening tests are still recommended in the psychiatric field. Long-term psychiatric input, with periodic syphilis titre controls, seems indicated in individuals affected by neurosyphilis with psychiatric symptoms. Furthermore, individuals with mental health problems may be at higher risk of acquiring syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Social Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aigner
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fearns
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geusau
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D009494:Neurosyphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000523:psychology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification*