Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:18:43.339Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Neurodegenerative and psychiatric overlap in frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a case of familial frontotemporal dementia presenting with catatonia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 August 2013

Alvin C. Holm
Alvin C. Holm*
Affiliation:
Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders Program at Bethesda Hospital, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Dr Alvin C. Holm, MD, FACP, Bethesda Hospital 559 Capitol Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55103, USA. Phone: +651-326-2173. Email: aholm@healtheast.org.
Get access

Abstract

The behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) begins with psychiatric symptoms, including changes in personal conduct and/or interpersonal behavior. Prior to developing cognitive impairment, differentiating FTD from primary psychiatric disorders, like schizophrenia, can be challenging. This paper presents a case of traumatic brain injury with subsequent depression and catatonia. Initial response to electroconvulsive therapy and lorazepam suggested primarily psychiatric pathology. Subsequent symptom progression, reduced treatment response, and detailed family history evaluation led to the diagnosis of familial FTD with C9ORF72 mutation. This case highlights that familial FTD can present with depression with suicidal tendencies and catatonia, and that the responsiveness of these behavioral manifestations to standard therapies can change over time.

Keywords

catatoniaelectroconvulsive therapyfrontotemporal dementiageneticslorazepam
Type
Case Report
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , February 2014 , pp. 345 - 347
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bush, G.et al. (1996). Catatonia. I. Rating scale and standardized examination. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia, 93, 129–136.Google Scholar
Holm, A.et al. (1999). The outcomes of an inpatient treatment program for geriatric patients with dementia and dysfunctional behaviors. Gerontologist, 39, 668–676.Google Scholar
Hsiung, G.et al. (2012). Clinical and pathological features of familial frontotemporal dementia caused by C9ORF72 mutation on chromosome 9p. Brain, 135, 709–722. doi:10.1093/brain/awr354.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kobayashi, T., Inoue, K., Shioda, K. and Kato, S. (2012). Effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy for depression and Cotard's syndrome in a patient with frontotemporal lobe dementia. Case Reports in Psychiatry, 2012, 627460. doi:10.1155/2012/627460.Google Scholar
Lauer, M.et al. (2001). Disturbed neural circuits in a subtype of chronic catatonic schizophrenia demonstrated by F-18-FDG-PET and F-18-DOPA-PET. Journal of Neural Transmission, 108, 661–670.Google Scholar
McMurtray, A., Clark, D. G., Christine, D. and Mendez, M. F. (2006). Early-onset dementia: frequency and causes compared to late-onset dementia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 21, 59–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rabinovici, G. D. and Miller, B. L. (2010). Frontotemporal lobar degeneration: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management. CNS Drugs, 24, 375–398. doi:10.2165/11533100-000000000-00000.Google Scholar
Rascovsky, K.et al. (2011). Sensitivity of revised diagnostic criteria for the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia. Brain, 134, 2456–2477. doi:10.1093/brain/awr179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seelaar, H., Rohrer, J. D., Pijenburg, Y. L., Fox, N. C. and van Swieten, J. C. (2011). Clinical, genetic and pathological heterogeneity of frontotemporal dementia: a review. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 82, 476–486. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2010.212225.Google Scholar
Snowden, J. S.et al. (2012). Distinct clinical and pathological characteristics of frontotemporal dementia associated with C9ORF72 mutations. Brain, 135, 693–708. doi:10.1093/brain/awr355.Google Scholar
Suzuki, K., Takano, T. and Matsuoka, H. (2009). A case of catatonia resembling frontotemporal dementia and resolved with electroconvulsive therapy. World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 10, 245–247.Google Scholar
Synofzik, M.et al. (2012). Suicide attempt as the presenting symptom of C9ORF72 dementia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 169, 1211–1213.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Takada, L. T. and Sha, S. J. (2012). Neuropsychiatric features of C9orf72-associated behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and frontotemporal dementia with motor neuron disease. Alzheimers Research and Therapy, 4, 38.Google Scholar
Vanderzeypen, F., Bier, J. C., Genevrois, C., Mendlewicz, J. and Loststra, F. (2003). Frontal dementia or dementia praecox? A case report of a psychotic disorder with a severe decline. L’Encéphale, 29, 172–180 (in French).Google Scholar