Bipolar disorder after stroke in an elderly patient

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Neurology

Background:

• Bipolar disorder (BD) onset after stroke is uncommon.
• Factors like brain atrophy and vascular issues may contribute to post-stroke BD.
• Understanding brain circuits involved in post-stroke BD is crucial for studying brain function and BD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case of bipolar disorder secondary to cerebrovascular events.
• To explore the potential link between specific stroke locations and mood disorder manifestation.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 65-year-old male patient.
• Detailed description of cerebrovascular events including lacunar infarctions and ischemic lesions.
• Documentation of subsequent manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes.

Main Results:

• The patient experienced manic, hypomanic, and depressive episodes at 6, 10, and 16 months post-stroke, respectively.
• The stroke involved multiple subcortical biparietal lacunar infarctions, a left putamen lacunar infarction, and a right median cerebral trunk ischemic lesion.
• This case illustrates a rare instance of secondary bipolar disorder following significant cerebrovascular events.

Conclusions:

• Cerebrovascular events can trigger the onset of bipolar disorder.
• The specific locations and extent of brain damage may influence the type and timing of mood episodes.
• Further research into brain circuitry affected by stroke is needed to understand BD etiopathogenesis.