Abstract

RIVERA-ENCINAS, María Teresa; REVILLA-ZUNIGA, Joshep A  and  CRUZADO, Lizardo. Traumatic brain injury: a risk factor for schizophrenia or a cause of psychosis? A case report. Rev Neuropsiquiatr [online]. 2018, vol.81, n.4, pp.257-263. ISSN 0034-8597.  http://dx.doi.org/10.20453/rnp.v81i4.3440.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been identified as a causal factor in the emergence of psychosis, and also as a risk factor preceding the development of schizophrenia. In order to illustrate the differential diagnosis between these two conditions, a case report and a brief review of pertinent literature are presented are presented. A 21-year- old male patient with a family history of schizophrenia, suffered of a severe TBI at age 13, and two years later started to present referential and persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations, followed, shortly thereafter, by negative symptoms. The differential diagnosis between paranoid schizophrenia and psychosis secondary to TBI was decided in favor of the former. In a diagnostic disquisition of this type, it is necessary to include the largest number of clinical elements (anamnestic and physical examination-related), neuropsychological, neuroimaging and electroencephalographic, besides laboratory tests, as many times the diagnosis is far from clear. The clinical evolution of the disorder, as usual, can assist in the resolution of the diagnostic dilemma.

Keywords : Craniocerebral trauma; psychotic disorders; schizophrenia; risk factors.

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