Mania as a presentation of primary hypothyroidism

Sathya A, Radhika R, Mahadevan S, Sriram U
Correspondence: Dr Sathya Anjali, anjalisathyab@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT
Hypothyroidism is a common problem in clinical practice, with diverse manifestations. Neuropsychiatric problems include affective disorders, disturbances in cognition and psychosis. Mania is commonly associated with hyperthyroidism. Only a few selected case reports mention mania as a presenting feature of hypothyroidism. We report a case of mania with psychotic symptoms in a 47-year-old woman who had no previous history of psychiatric disorder. She had signs of florid hypothyroidism. She required both antipsychotic drugs and thyroxine replacement for the amelioration of her symptoms. The report is followed by a brief review of the literature on mania as a clinical presentation of hypothyroidism and its probable pathogenesis. One has to have a high index of suspicion of underlying organic causes in patients presenting with depression, psychosis or cognitive disorders.

Keywords: hypothyroidism, mania, psychosis
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(2): e65-e67