Observations placeholder
Vitamin B12 deficiency and psychosis
Identifier
007174
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Was it the combined effect of the deficiency and the antipsychotics or did the antipsychotics cause the deficiency? - this is not made clear
A description of the experience
J Psychiatr Pract. 2009 Sep;15(5):415-22. doi: 10.1097/01.pra.0000361282.95962.9f. Malignant catatonia in a patient with bipolar disorder, B12 deficiency, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome: one cause or three? Lewis AL, Pelic C, Kahn DA.
A Case is presented of a 23-year-old woman with progressive onset of paranoid psychosis and catatonia, who was ultimately found to have both vitamin B12 deficiency and a family history of bipolar disorder.
The patient was initially diagnosed with schizophrenia and treated with the antipsychotic medication ziprasidone. Her condition rapidly worsened to a state consistent with either neuroleptic malignant syndrome or malignant catatonia.
Work-up then revealed vitamin B12 deficiency ….. The authors discuss the differential diagnosis of catatonia as reflecting a high likelihood of underlying mood disorder; the evaluation and management of malignant catatonia and malignant neuroleptic syndrome; and the role of vitamin B12 deficiency in precipitating psychotic symptoms.
The case also illustrates the problems of diagnosing and managing a multifactorial disorder with psychiatric, general medical, and perhaps iatrogenic components.
PMID: 19820558
The source of the experience
PubMedConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
AtoniaSymbols
Science Items
AtoniaActivities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
Anti-psychoticsVitamin imbalance
Suppressions
Manic depressionSchizophrenia
Vitamin B12