Weekly Mind Reader: Patient Suffers Seizures and Psychosis

by Denis Storey
April 5, 2024 at 8:23 AM UTC

The lateaThe latest Weekly Mind Reader explores social isolation, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and the link between breast cancer and depression. st Weekly Mind Reader includes a new link between two anxiety disorders, encouraging news about telehealth, and more about PTSD.

The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders published a case report about Ms. Q, whose low-dose diazepam withdrawal induced seizures and subsequent psychosis.

New-onset Seizures and Psychosis During Low-Dose Diazepam Withdrawal

Postictal psychosis, a rare phenomenon linked to epilepsy, typically manifests within a week of seizures and can linger up to 90 days. Symptoms can include delirium, delusions, or hallucinations. It’s distinct from interictal psychoses or intoxication.

While it’s more common in those with a history of epilepsy, it can strike individuals without a history of seizures. In a case involving Ms. Q, a woman in her 60s with a history of depression and anxiety, postictal psychosis emerged after diazepam withdrawal seizures. Her presentation included confusion, paranoia, and affective symptoms, complicating diagnosis and treatment.

Ms. Q’s admission followed witnessed seizures, and her subsequent behavior raised concerns about psychosis. Despite a history of depression, her high cognitive score suggested there was something else going on.

Treatment with valproic acid alleviated the seizures, but her paranoia persisted for five days. A subsequent EEG revealed epileptogenic potentials, indicating underlying neurologic dysfunction contributing to both seizures and psychosis. Collaboration between medical and psychiatric teams played a crucial role in managing her confusing presentation.

Diagnosing and treating mood and psychotic symptoms in medical settings always pose a challenge. And a psychiatric history can complicate things. In Ms. Q’s case, diazepam withdrawal likely triggered seizures due to underlying neurologic dysfunction. Duloxetine withdrawal and cannabis use also played minor roles. This underscores the importance of considering medical factors in psychiatric presentations, particularly in patients with complex histories.

The occurrence of postictal psychosis after first-onset seizures remains rare, highlighting the need for comprehensive evaluation and collaboration among specialists. Ms. Q’s case emphasizes the intricate interplay between psychiatric and neurologic conditions. It underscores the significance of multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosis and management, critical to effective treatment and discharge.

IN OTHER PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROLOGY NEWS

  • Mayank Gupta, MD, discusses SSRI use and the risk of behavioral activation and suicidality in people with autism spectrum disorders.
  • A new report examines trends in opioid use disorder and associated ED visits from 2016 to 2021 and evaluates buprenorphine and naloxone prescribing patterns.
  • A case report highlights the potential interaction between bupropion-dextromethorphan (BUP-DXM) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), leading to serotonin syndrome and DXM toxicity in a patient with major depressive disorder.
  • A pair of case studies illustrate the ancillary benefits of olanzapine/samidorphan (OLZ/SAM) in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder, which can help manage comorbid addictive behaviors and cut the risk of accidental overdose.
  • The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry has published three papers that reveal promising results for ADHD patients.

Original Research

Efficacy and Safety of Ketamine/Esketamine in Bipolar Depression in a Clinical Setting

In a small sample of patients with bipolar depression treated with ketamine/esketamine, no evidence of mania or hypomania was seen during acute treatment.

Mia C. Santucci and others

Case Report

Black Hairy Tongue: A Rare Adverse Effect of Olanzapine

A young woman recently diagnosed with a manic episode developed black discoloration on the dorsum of her tongue 3 weeks after starting olanzapine.

Preeti Dalal and others