title: Giant cell arteritis presenting as depressed mood and headache in an elderly patient.
abstract: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the inflammation of medium to large vessels. Although classic descriptions have centered on features such as vision loss, headaches, fevers, and jaw claudication, there is increasing recognition of more atypical manifestations. We report a case of GCA in a 77-year-old male patient initially presenting with depressed mood and headache. His psychiatric symptoms promptly responded to treatment with corticosteroids without the use of antidepressants. This case adds to the literature that GCA may initially present with affective or psychotic symptoms and highlights the need for clinicians to consider GCA in the differential diagnosis for new-onset psychiatric disorders in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Internal Medicine and †Division of Rheumatology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Dale E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Toney
authors.forename: Mujahed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alikhan
authors.forename: Kristine M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lohr
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones