[Poststroke-bipolar affective disorder]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Vascular Neurology

Background:

• Bipolar affective disorders are complex mental health conditions.
• Genetic predisposition and environmental factors are known contributors.
• The role of vascular events in affective disorders is an area of ongoing research.

Observation:

• A 23-year-old woman developed severe mania and self-endangerment following a basal ganglia infarction (globus pallidus) causing left-sided hemiplegia.
• Oral contraceptive use was identified as the sole identifiable risk factor.
• The patient's mother later developed a depressive disorder, suggesting a possible genetic predisposition.

Findings:

• The case report explores a potential association between right-sided basal ganglia infarction and bipolar affective disorder.
• It discusses the interplay of vascular or inflammatory factors in the aetiopathogenesis of bipolar affective disorders.
• The occurrence of mania post-infarction suggests a possible link between cerebrovascular events and mood disturbances.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering cerebrovascular events in the differential diagnosis of new-onset mania, particularly in young adults.
• It prompts further investigation into the mechanisms linking vascular pathology and affective disorders.
• Understanding these links may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for bipolar disorder.