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A case of hydrocephalus occlusus presenting as bipolar disorder.

Reisch T, Brekenfeld C, Barth A

University Hospital of Social and Community Psychiatry, Bern, Switzerland. reisch@spk.unibe.ch

OBJECTIVE: This case highlights the fact that manic and depressive symptoms can be related to hydrocephalus occlusus even in the absence of neurological symptoms. METHOD: Single case report. RESULTS: A 22-year-old male patient presented with a 2-year history of manic and depressive symptoms. He was admitted to psychiatric in-patient care fulfilling sufficient criteria of bipolar disorder presenting with a hypomanic state. No neurological symptoms could be detected. Three months later, a MRI of the brain showed a hydrocephalus occlusus because of a space-occupying lesion of 5 mm in the lamina tecti obstructing the aqueduct of Silvius. The MRI also showed parahippocampal changes, which were probably related to the hydrocephalus. After the implantation of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, manic symptoms resolved, but the patient continued to suffer from adynamic symptoms. Follow-up MRIs over 3 years showed no progression of the lesion of unknown etiology. CONCLUSIONS: In this case, early routine neuroimaging might have reduced long-term brain damage. The case underlines that even in the absence of neurological symptoms, brain imaging in bipolar disorder might be crucial. The feasibility of routine brain imaging in bipolar patients is discussed.

Published 4 July 2005 in Acta Psychiatr Scand, 112(2): 159-62; discussion 162-3.
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