Hepatitis C treatment and erotomania

Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2012 Jan-Feb;34(1):103.e7-103.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2011.09.006. Epub 2011 Oct 21.

Abstract

The emergence of psychosis during antiviral therapy for hepatitis C is a rare side effect poorly understood in terms of etiopathogenesis, clinical features and prognosis. Erotomania is a rare psychotic syndrome characterized by the presence of a delusion: the patient (usually a female) is loved by a specific man. We present a patient who began a clinical picture of erotomania that involved his doctor a few days after treatment of interferon and ribavirin was started. He stalked his doctor, forcing the police and the court to intervene. Nevertheless, once antipsychotic treatment was established, symptoms remitted, and the patient continued antiviral treatment successfully.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents