Severe behavioral disturbances in bipolar disorder: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Behavioral disturbances are common in psychiatric patients. This symptom may be caused by several disorders and clinical status.

Case report

We report the case of a 40 year-old male who was diagnosed of nonspecific psychotic disorder, alcohol dependence, cannabis abuse and intellectual disability. The patient was admitted into a long-stay psychiatric unit because of behavioral disturbances consisted in aggressive in the context of a chronic psychosis consisted in delusions of reference and auditory pseudohallucinations. During his admission the patient received the diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1, presenting more severe behavioral disturbances during these mood episodes. It was necessary to make diverse pharmacological changes to stabilize the mood of the patient. Finally, the treatment was modified and it was prescribed clozapine (25 mg/24 h), clotiapine (40 mg/8 h), levomepromazine (200 mg/24 h), topiramate (125 mg/12 h), clomipramine (150 mg/24 h) and clorazepate dipotassium (50 mg/24 h). With this treatment, the patient showed a considerable improvement of symptoms, presenting euthymic and without behavioral disturbances.

Discussion

In this case report, we present a patient with severe behavioral disturbances. The inclusion of bipolar disorder in the diagnosis of the patient was very important for the correct treatment and management, because of depressive and manic mood episodes the behavioral disturbances were exacerbated.

Conclusions

Patients with behavioral disturbances could present psychotic and affective symptoms as cause of them. It is necessary to explore these symptoms and try different treatments to improve them.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.