PARANOID PSYCHOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM AND VITAMIN-B(12)DEFICIENCY

The case of a 39 year old in-patient with a paranoid syndrome is prese nted. During the course of examination, a vitamin B-12 deficiency as w ell as a hypothyreosis were found, which seemed to have a common cause in an autoimmune disease. The paranoid symptoms disappeared completel y under treatment with vitamin B-12 and thyroid hormones. Moreover, th e neuropsychological deficit improved markedly. The relationship betwe en psychiatric symptoms and organic disease, and also the differential diagnosis, is discussed.