Pseudodementia in a twenty-one-year-old with bipolar disorder and vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.

Abstract

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.

• Authors: S D Reid
• Journal: The West Indian medical journal (West Indian Med J) Vol. 49 Issue 4 Pg. 347-8 (Dec 2000) ISSN: 0043-3144 [Print] Jamaica
• PMID: 11211551 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Adult
• Bipolar Disorder (complications)
• Dementia (diagnosis, etiology)
• Female
• Folic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Folic Acid Deficiency (complications, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Vitamin B 12 (therapeutic use)
• Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (complications, drug therapy)