Psychotic disorder in a case with Hallervorden-Spatz disease

Abstract

Objective: Hallervorden - Spatz disease is a rare autosomal recessive condition, with early onset of predominantly extrapyramidal dysfunction. The symptoms of the disease are dystonia, rigidity, choreoathetosis, pyramidal signs, and intellectual decline. Recent genetic studies mapped the disease to chromosome 20p12.3-p13, and identified mutations in the pantothenate kinase gene. This report describes a childhood onset case of Hallervorden - Spatz disease with schizophreniform psychotic symptoms. Former reports about the psychiatric comorbidity generally included depressive disorder. Method: A single case report. Results: A 14-year-old boy with Hallervorden - Spatz disease presented a psychotic episode with prominent auditory hallucinations. Symptoms were relieved after neuroleptic treatment. Conclusion: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first published report of the disease with psychotic symptoms. The contribution of basal ganglia, with their wide projections, to the emergence of psychotic symptoms was discussed.