Bipolar Camouflage: A Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Case Report

Authors

  • Teresa Reynolds de Sousa Psychiatry and Mental Health Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria. Lisbon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0416-4841
  • Miguel Schön Neurology Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria. Lisbon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2354-9907
  • Pedro Alves Language Study Unit. Egas Moniz Centre. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon; Stroke Unit. Neurology Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria. Lisbon. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5740-5904
  • Filipa Novais Psychiatry and Mental Health Department. Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria. Lisbon; Psychiatry and Psychology Department. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon; Environmental Health Institute (ISAMB). Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9379-1734
  • Tiago Mendes Psychiatry and Psychology Department. Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon; Molecular Medicine Institute (IMM). Faculdade de Medicina. Universidade de Lisboa. Lisbon. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-0504

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.21593

Keywords:

Cerebellar Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Mood Disorders

Abstract

The cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome is a neuropsychiatric syndrome composed of affective (anxiety, depression, euphoria, and emotional lability) and cognitive symptoms (executive, attentional, and visuospatial deficits) that was described in the 1990s. We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with a history of an acute neurological episode at the age of 28, after which she reported a change in personality, brief and alternating periods of depression, hypomania, and mixed episodes, and cognitive impairment that had a major impact on her personal and occupational level of functioning. She was initially diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but a clinical, neuropsychological, and imaging re-evaluation prompted a diagnostic reconsideration in favor of a cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome. This enabled therapeutical and prognostic refinement. Here, we discuss the diagnostic challenges of this syndrome and the implications that an accurate diagnosis has for patients.

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References

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Published

2024-07-17

How to Cite

1.
Reynolds de Sousa T, Schön M, Alves P, Novais F, Mendes T. Bipolar Camouflage: A Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome Case Report. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2024 Jul. 17 [cited 2024 Nov. 22];37(9):647-51. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/21593

Issue

Vol. 37 No. 9 (2024): September

Section

Case Report

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