A rare case of isovaleric acidemia and schizophrenia: a case report

Schizophrenia is a severe chronic mental disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech and behavior. On the other hand, isovaleric acidemia (IVA) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by the accumulation of isovaleric acid and its metabolic byproducts in the body. To date, there is a notable absence of clinical descriptions concerning the simultaneous occurrence of IVA and schizophrenia in the existing literature.

This report presents a clinical case involving the coexistence of IVA and Schizophrenia. A 25-year-old male patient diagnosed with comorbid IVA and schizophrenia was admitted to the psychiatric department due to worsening delusions and auditory hallucinations. Treatment with antipsychotics (clozapine 150 mg/day and blonanserin 24 mg/day) and metabolic agents (L-carnitine 3 g/day and reduced glutathione 1.2 g/day) reduced delusion severity, though delusions persisted, while auditory hallucinations resolved.

In this case description, the authors describe a rare clinical case in which the patient presents with IVA and schizophrenia. This case discusses the potential pathways through which IVA may precipitate the onset of schizophrenia.