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Delirious mania in the elderly.
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Norton Psychiatric Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 200 East Chestnut Street, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. daniel.weintraub@nortonhealthcare.org
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|May 3, 2001
Summary
Delirious mania can present as delirium in elderly patients, challenging typical diagnostic patterns. Early recognition and mood stabilizer treatment are crucial for managing this condition in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Neuropsychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Delirious mania is characterized by delirium symptoms during a manic episode.
- Existing literature describes mania as the initial symptom, followed by delirium.
- Previous case reports have not focused on elderly patients.
Observation:
- This report details two elderly patients whose mania initially presented with delirium.
- Both patients exhibited clear manic episodes, confirmed by history and treatment response.
- These cases highlight a reversed presentation of delirious mania in older adults.
Findings:
- Mania should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elderly patients presenting with confusion, disorientation, and perceptual changes.
- The typical presentation of delirious mania may be reversed in the elderly.
- A history of bipolar disorder increases the likelihood of this presentation.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider mania in elderly patients with apparent delirium, especially those with a bipolar disorder history.
- This finding broadens the understanding of delirious mania presentation in geriatric populations.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment with mood stabilizers can improve outcomes for elderly patients with this condition.