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Recurring Episodes of Bell’s Mania After Cerebrovascular Accident

Received October 22, 2007; revised February 19, 2008; accepted February 20, 2008. From the Dept. of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. Send correspondence and reprint requests to William Bobo, M.D., Dept. of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt Univ. School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Suite 3035, 1601 23^rd Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212. e-mail: william.v.bobo{at}vanderbilt.edu
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Bell’s mania (mania with delirium) is an acute neurobehavioral syndrome of unknown etiology that is characterized by the rapid onset of grandiosity, psychomotor excitement, emotional lability, psychosis, and sleep disruption consistent with mania, coupled with alterations in sensorium, and disorientation characteristic of delirium. Catatonia is a common feature of the syndrome. METHOD: The authors describe a case of recurrent delirium/mania with prominent catatonic features after a cerebellar and pontine stroke, and subsequent successful treatment with lorazepam. RESULTS: Symptoms quickly resolved after antipsychotics were discontinued, with continuation of valproate and lorazapam treatment. DISCUSSION: Failure to recognize this patient’s syndrome as a form of catatonia could have had severe, even life-threatening, consequences. The use of neuroleptic medications in cases of delirium/mania with catatonic signs may result in marked clinical deterioration, whereas high-dose lorazepam can ameliorate catatonic signs.

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