Relapsing-remitting type multiple sclerosis with olfactory hallucinosis and secondary delusions
1Columbia University, Neurology, NI 524, 710 W 168th Street, Neurological Institute, New York, 10032, USA.
BMJ Case Reports
|June 21, 2011
Summary
Psychiatric symptoms like depression and cognitive decline are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). This report details a rare case of psychotic symptoms, including olfactory hallucinations and delusional disorder, appearing 13 years into the disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently presents with psychiatric manifestations.
- Affective disorders and cognitive decline affect over 50% of MS patients.
- Psychotic symptoms are less common but can occur during the disease course.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a rare clinical case of psychotic symptoms in a patient with multiple sclerosis.
- To highlight the potential for late-onset psychotic disorders in the context of MS.
Main Methods:
- Case report presentation.
- Review of clinical history and neurological progression.
- Analysis of psychiatric symptom development.
Main Results:
- A patient with a 13-year history of relapsing-remitting MS developed olfactory hallucinations.
- The patient also experienced a delusional disorder.
- These psychotic symptoms emerged significantly after the initial MS diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Psychotic disorders, though rare, can manifest in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Olfactory hallucinations and delusional disorder represent unusual psychiatric sequelae of MS.
- This case underscores the importance of considering diverse psychiatric presentations in long-standing MS.
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