Behaviour disorder caused by Cushing's syndrome in an older person

Age and Ageing
S DamantiT Lucchi

Abstract

An 81-year-old woman was hospitalised for behavioural disorders that had been progressively emerging over a period of few weeks. The symptoms appeared to worsen over time. A diagnosis of vascular dementia, complicated by psychosis, was initially hypothesised. The inefficacy of the antipsychotic/benzodiazepine medications used, along with the presence of hypertension, hypokalaemia and metabolic alkalosis (resistant to pharmacological attempts of correction), as well as the hirsutism and the development of several infections, led us to consider Cushing's syndrome. Endocrinological analysis suggested ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion. Although endogenous Cushing's syndrome is rare in older people, it should always be considered among the differential diagnosis of behavioural disorders.

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antipsychotic Drugs

Antipsychotic drugs are a class of medication primarily used to manage psychosis (including delusions, hallucinations, paranoia or disordered thought), principally in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Discover the latest research on antipsychotic drugs here

Related Papers

The American Review of Respiratory Disease
W J Fulkerson, J H Newman
Revista medico-chirurgicală̆ a Societă̆ţ̜ii de Medici ş̧i Naturaliş̧ti din Iaş̧i
E ZbrancaR Moscovici
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved