Apathetic syndrome from carotid dissection: a dangerous condition
Carmela Gerace1, Fabio Massimo Corsi, Giovanna Comanducci
1Department of Neurology, Azienda Ospedaliera S.Camillo-Forlanini, Roma, Italy. c.gerace@tiscali.it
BMJ Case Reports
|September 4, 2013
Summary
Isolated behavioral changes can mask serious brain conditions. A case of carotid dissection presented as apathy, mimicking depression and causing diagnostic delays.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Behavioral disturbances can mimic psychiatric disorders.
- Delayed diagnosis of acute brain disease is a significant clinical challenge.
Observation:
- A patient presented with an apathetic syndrome.
- The symptoms were initially misdiagnosed as postpartum depression.
Findings:
- The patient's apathetic syndrome was a manifestation of carotid dissection.
- This misdiagnosis led to a critical delay in identifying the underlying neurological condition.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering neurological causes for isolated behavioral changes.
- Emphasizes the need for thorough differential diagnosis in psychiatric presentations.
- Underscores the potential for vascular events to present with atypical neurological symptoms.
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