Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 928314

Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

What Psychiatrists Should Know About....

Posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2009, at 10:52:23

I think because I harp on this frequently most regulars here are aware, but this is intended for all, aware or not. It is an informative read, especially for those who "see themselves" in one or more of the descriptions in this article.

Article: Lyme Disease the Cause of 1/3 of Psychiatric Disorders?
From What Psychiatrists Should Know about Lyme Disease, ILADS

In a published study (Hajek et al., Am J Psychiatry 2002; 159:297-301), onethird of psychiatric inpatients showed signs of an infection with the Lyme spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. It has been found that even severe neuropsychiatric behavioral symptoms in this population can often be reversed or ameliorated when a multi-system treatment program targeting Lyme disease is used.

Patients with late-stage Lyme disease may present with a variety of neurological and psychiatric problems, ranging from mild to severe. These include:

Cognitive losses
Memory impairment or loss (brain fog)
Dyslexia and word-finding problems
Visual/spatial processing impairment (trouble finding things, getting lost)
Slowed processing of information
Psychosis
Seizures
Violent behavior, irritability
Rage attacks / impulse dyscontrol
Anxiety
Depression
Panic attacks
Rapid mood swings that may mimic bipolarity (mania/depression)
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
Sleep Disorders
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADD/ADHD)-like syndrome
Autism-like syndrome
At any time, patients infected with Borrelia may also exhibit cognitive symptoms such as memory and concentration impairments and word-finding difficulties, ADD/ADHD-like symptoms, learning disabilities, OCD, crying spells, rages, depression, bipolar disorder, panic and anxiety disorders and psychoses - all may be caused or exacerbated by Lyme disease. Disorders of the nervous system have been found in 1540% of late-stage (tertiary) Lyme patients (Caliendo et al, Psychosomatics 1995;36:69-74). When Lyme disease affects the brain, it is often referred to as Lyme neuroborreliosis or Lyme encephalopathy. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of these patients will be properly diagnosed as having Lyme disease and most continue to have relatively unsuccessful treatment with psychiatric medications.

Neuroborreliosis can mimic virtually any type of encephalopathy or psychiatric disorder and is often compared to neurosyphilis. Both are caused by spirochetes, are multi-systemic, and can affect a patient neurologically, producing cognitive dysfunction and organic psychiatric illness. Such symptoms may be dormant, only surfacing years later.

Dr. Brian Fallon, director of the Lyme Disease Research Program at Columbia University and principal investigator of the NIH-funded study of brain imaging and persistent Lyme disease, cites five questions that imply warning signs of possible Lyme encephalopathy:

Are there markers of non-psychiatric disease such as erythema migrans rash, arthralgias or arthritis, myalgias, severe headaches, sound or light sensitivity, paresthesias, diffuse fasciculations, cardiac conduction defects, word-finding problems, short-term memory loss, tremors, cranial neuropathies, and/or radicular or shooting pain?
Is this psychiatric disorder atypical or unusual? For example, does a panic attack last longer than the expected 1/2 hour? Or is it a first ever panic attack at age 50?
Is there poor or paradoxical response or excessive side effect sensitivity to medications that are expected to be helpful for particular psychiatric symptoms
Is this new-onset disease without psychological precipitants such as new stressors or secondary gain?
Is there an absence of a personal history or family history of major psychiatric disturbances?
Negative answers to these questions do not rule out the presence of Lyme disease. But a yes to most of the questions, especially in a patient with an out-of-doors lifestyle or a pet, demands further clinical assessment. Dr. Fallon recommends Western blot serologic studies (IGENEX), lumbar puncture, neuropsychological testing, brain MRI and SPECT (single photon emission computerized tomography) scans.

Because blood tests at the top three general medical laboratories in the nation fail to detect a majority or large percent of Lyme antibodies, ILADS recommends use of laboratories that specialize in Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. Blood tests should not be used to rule out Lyme disease when there is a strong clinical presentation because of the high incidence of false negative results.

What should a psychiatrist or treating physician do?

Patients with a psychiatric disorder should be screened for symptoms related to Lyme, especially those with complicated or atypical presentations. Be suspicious of Lyme if a patient mentions cognitive changes, extreme fatigue, weight changes, headaches, fibromyalgia, a history of mono, spider bites, multiple sclerosis, explosive rages or sudden mood swings. Consider Lyme disease in children with behavioral changes, fatigue, school phobias, academic problems, learning disabilities, headaches, sore throats, GI complaints and/or migrating pains. In teens, Lyme disease may be complicated by drug abuse.

The Lyme spirochete is slow growing and can be difficult to treat, so the patient should be treated with multi-system treatments that include appropriate antibiotics for at least two to four weeks beyond symptom resolution. Most individuals with Lyme disease respond to multi-system treatments, but the treatment course is highly patient specific.

Some of the common symptoms of late-stage (tertiary) Lyme disease and other tick-borne co-infections:

Profound fatigue
Chills, sweats and skin flushes
Night sweats
Migrating arthralgias
Muscle pains/twitching
Sleep disturbances
Severe headaches
Shifting neurologic pains
Tremors, shakiness
Numbness, tingling sensations and pain often shifting and unusual in type
Cranial nerve disturbance (Facial numbness, pain, tingling, paralysis, optic neuritis, trouble swallowing, distortion of smell or taste)
Losses in fields of attention/executive functions such as inability to maintain divided or sustained attention and memory
Impaired memory functions (lost items, missed appointments, retold stories)
Language difficulties (halting speech, disrupted participation in conversation)
Impaired visual/spatial processing (inability to find things, tendency to get lost, disorganization, difficulty reading, especially for enjoyment)
Impaired abstract reasoning (poor problem-solving/decision-making)
Slowed processing speed (familiar tasks take longer, cant follow conversations well).

 

Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About.... » bleauberry

Posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2009, at 12:14:55

In reply to What Psychiatrists Should Know About...., posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2009, at 10:52:23

BB that's late stage tertiary which means near death and just meds to ease the pain. Chronic lymes like mine remains positive for every in some cases as it created antibodies and I've just repeated my Western Blot, ANA, RF, CBC, Electroylyes. My MRI"s during the active disease were normal and spinal fluid as well. I'm not on death's door that I know of. Don't take this personally as I do know how passionate you are on this matter. Love Phillipa

 

Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About.... » bleauberry

Posted by RocketMan on December 6, 2009, at 12:31:32

In reply to What Psychiatrists Should Know About...., posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2009, at 10:52:23

Hi bleauberry,

I have, over the past 10 - 20 years or so, been treated with various antibiotics such as biaxin, minoxocin etc, for boils and such. Does that mean if by chance, I contracted Lyme's disease as a youngster, the disease would have been eradicated due to antibiotic treatment?

Thanks, Rick

 

Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About....

Posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2009, at 21:09:34

In reply to Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About.... » bleauberry, posted by RocketMan on December 6, 2009, at 12:31:32

Biaxin three months at a time over a two year period was what I was treated with. Still test positive Western blot but the antibodies stay positive for years. Also if a new bite l0 days of an antibiotic usually doxycyclinne should do the trick. Love Phillipa

 

Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About....

Posted by bleauberry on December 8, 2009, at 17:31:15

In reply to Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About.... » bleauberry, posted by Phillipa on December 6, 2009, at 12:14:55

Forgive me Phillipa, but I have no clue what you are talking about. What little snippet of this large article was being commented on? If comment is forthcoming, why was 95% of the contents not commented on?

Was your Western Blot done by Igenex? I've heard they are the only ones equipped to get the most accuracy. Most people have tested negative to Western Blot by other labs, but positive by Igenex, re-confirmed by other newer methods. LLMDS almost universally send their blood samples to Igenex.

I don't know if you have Lyme or not but you sure have a symptom pattern and history that looks like it.

The only real definitive test is to take some potent anti-spirochete and anti-cyst antibiotics to see what happens. Cipro and Clindamycin for example.

Anyway, I put this out there because most people are not aware that 30% of psych patients were found to have signs of Lyme, and they are not aware of the symptom profile or how the disease can mimic so many other things that they are having difficulties treating. It's just information everyone should have in their toolbox whether they ever use it or not.

Wisdom is good. Treating psychiatric disease is not only difficult, but a mystery as well. We need all the information we can get. We need to cover all angles, leave no stone unturned. Unfortunately one of the most common hidden causes of psych illnesses is a lousy but genius bacteria, and people should at least become aware of that, if not directly for themselves, maybe for a friend, neighbor, or family member.

> BB that's late stage tertiary which means near death and just meds to ease the pain. Chronic lymes like mine remains positive for every in some cases as it created antibodies and I've just repeated my Western Blot, ANA, RF, CBC, Electroylyes. My MRI"s during the active disease were normal and spinal fluid as well. I'm not on death's door that I know of. Don't take this personally as I do know how passionate you are on this matter. Love Phillipa

 

Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About.... » bleauberry

Posted by Phillipa on December 8, 2009, at 21:36:25

In reply to Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About...., posted by bleauberry on December 8, 2009, at 17:31:15

Yes Lab Corp sent to this lab and results Western Blot IGM elevated called positive at 2.5 and IGG normal makes no sense as IGM is for new infections and IGG the antibodies that remain positive. I see the doc that is from CT on Monday did one four years ago on me. Google Dr Kipnis in Charlotte NC. His credentials speak for and of his experience. Phillipa

 

Re: What Psychiatrists Should Know About....

Posted by okydoky on December 13, 2009, at 15:30:41

In reply to What Psychiatrists Should Know About...., posted by bleauberry on December 6, 2009, at 10:52:23

Thanks.

I know many diseases can mimic others. I have had little luck with treating my depression and I do have some of the symptoms you have articulated.


I was wondering what you would suggest I ask my doctor to test or what tests to run to try and rule this out? Maybe a course of antibiotics and see what happens?

oky


This is the end of the thread.


Show another thread

URL of post in thread:


Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ


[dr. bob] Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD, bob@dr-bob.org

Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.