Delusional disorder and alcohol abuse in a patient with Wilson's disease

Wilson's disease (WD) or hepatolenticular degeneration is a rare disorder of copper metabolism that results in copper deposition in brain, liver, kidneys and the cornea. Due to the copper deposits in the brain, neurological and psychiatric symptoms may appear. The psychiatric manifestations may vary from mood disorders, behavioral and personality disorders to cognitive impairment, while psychotic symptoms are rarely reported. The objective of this report was to present an unusual case of WD presenting with nonpersecutory delusional disorder and alcohol abuse in the absence of neurological signs.

A 34-year-old male patient, without any previous psychiatric or alcohol abuse history, presented with delusions of jealousy and alcohol abuse when he discontinued his treatment for WD. Although the patient had no previous symptoms or neurological signs, he was receiving treatment for WD for 3 years, after being diagnosed with the disease during family precautionary examination, since his brother developed symptomatic WD. The patient started combined pharmacotherapy, and after 3 months of follow-up the psychiatric manifestations were controlled sufficiently.

Although WD is rarely associated with alcohol abuse and delusions of jealousy, this disease should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of these psychiatric manifestations.