J Med Case Rep. 2014 Nov 24;8:384. doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-8-384.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder presenting with musical obsessions in otosclerosis: a case report.

Islam L1, Scarone S, Gambini O.

• 1Psychiatry, University of Milan Medical School, Ospedale San Paolo, Psichiatria Ovest, Via A Di Rudini 8, 20142 Milan, Italy. lucrezia.islam@unimi.it.

INTRODUCTION:

Musical obsessions consist of intrusive recollections of music fragments that are experienced as unwanted. Otosclerosis is caused by an abnormal bone homeostasis of the otic capsule and represents a frequent cause of hearing impairment. Many conditions causing hearing loss have been associated with musical hallucinations, but the association between musical obsessions and hearing loss is frequently overlooked.

CASE PRESENTATION:

We present the case of a 51-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder who developed musical obsessions soon after being diagnosed with otosclerosis. She was referred to our obsessive-compulsive disorder outpatient unit by her general psychiatrist. At the time of our first evaluation, she had severe musical obsessions that interfered with her social functioning and made her unable to follow conversations. ........

CONCLUSIONS:

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of musical obsessions in a patient with hearing loss due to otosclerosis and a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This case suggests that a differential diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder should be carefully considered in patients with hearing impairment who complain of involuntary musical imagery, especially in those patients who have a previous history of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

PMID:

25418908