J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2005 Mar;44(2):264-267.

The 3 Cases of Patients with Behcet's Disease who have Depressive and Psychotic Symptoms

• Lee SH
• Kim JH
• Song HS
• Lee KJ
• Nam M
• Chung YC

Abstract

Behcet's disease is characterized by mucocutaneous-ocular symptoms, namely recurrent stomatitis aphthosis, genital ulcer and ocular symptoms. Organic mental changes can be often observed, as well as dementia, depression, visual hallucination and schizophrenia-like symptoms. A 46-year-old female was admitted due to visual and auditory hallucinations, paranoid delusion and disorientation which had continued for 3 weeks. The findings on brain MRI were compatible with neuro-Behcet's disease. Her psychiatric symptoms improved with antipsychotic medications. A 42-year-old female visited our clinic complaining short-term memory impairment, depressive mood, anxiety and insomnia. Her depressive mood, anxiety and insomnia improved with antidepressant and benzodiazepine treatment. However, memory impairment remained. A 40-year-old female visited ER due to a suicide attempt with drug overdose. Depressive mood continued a few weeks prior to the incident. During admission psychotic symptoms were observed. These symptoms improved with antipsychotics within a week. Also depressive mood was subsided with antidepressant. These three cases represent that Behcet's disease often accompanies with psychiatric symptoms. A variety of psychosocial stressors can influence the progress of Behcet's disease and psychiatric symptoms.

Keyword

Behcet's disease; Depression; Psychotic symptom

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antipsychotic Agents
Anxiety
Benzodiazepines
Brain
Delusions
Dementia
Depression
Drug Overdose
Female
Hallucinations
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Memory
Memory, Short-Term
Middle Aged
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
Stomatitis
Suicide
Ulcer
Antipsychotic Agents
Benzodiazepines