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

West Indian Med J. 2000 Dec;49(4):347-8.

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

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

Substances

  • Folic Acid
  • Vitamin B 12