Case studies linking Borrelia and mental health (1)
The following descriptions of cases and studies, show a clear connection between Borrelia and mental health disorders.
This page contains descriptions (a) to (g), other descriptions are on the Cases and studies (h) to (m) page.
a) US study on the psychiatric effects of Borreliosis in children.
In a controlled study undertaken at Columbia University Department of Psychiatry, 20 children were examined following known infection of Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), and were found to have significantly more psychiatric and cognitive difficulties. Their cognitive abilities were found to be below that of 20 matched healthy control subjects, even taking into account any effects due to anxiety, depression and fatigue during education. The study also discussed the long-term effects of the children's infection with Borrelia, which brought about neuropsychiatric disturbances and caused significant psychosocial and academic impairment.
b) Case study of suspected ALS patient in Austria.
An elderly lady treated at the Emperor Franz Josef hospital, Vienna, was initially admitted with suspected Motor Neuron Disease. Testing of fluid from her spinal column indicated the presence of Bb. Following antibiotic treatment, improvement was seen in the patient's clinical symptoms, and further testing of spinal fluid demonstrated a positive response to the antibiotic treatment. The preliminary diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was revised to one of chronic neuroborreliosis, the term given to infection of the central nervous system (CNS) by Bb.
c) Psychotropic drug failure in Dutch patient with psychosis.
A 64-year old woman was admitted to the psychiatric ward of the Sophia Ziekenhuis at Zwolle in Holland. She was suffering from psychosis, with visual hallucinations, disorientation in time and space, and associative thinking. Psychotropic drugs failed to produce any improvement in her condition and, further, neurological symptoms developed. A lumbar puncture revealed the presence of Bb and, after treatment with penicillin, all of her psychiatric and neurological symptoms were resolved. From the history, which the woman was then able to communicate, it appeared she had been bitten by ticks. Her husband aged 66, passed through a similar episode of disease.
d) Study of psychiatric patients in Prague.
In a comparative study carried out at the Prague Psychiatric Center, the blood of 926 psychiatric patients, and that of 884 healthy control subjects, was screened for four different types of antibodies to Bb. Of 499 matched pairs (meaning of similar age and gender but from patient and control group respectively) 166 (33%) of the psychiatric patients and 94 (19%) of the healthy comparison subjects were seropositive in at least one of the four test assays for Bb. This study supports the hypothesis that there is an association between an infection of Bb and psychiatric morbidity.
e) Case study of German patient with schizophrenia-like symptoms.
At the University of Rostock in Germany, a 42-year old female patient presented with schizophrenia-like symptoms but a complete lack of neurological signs. A brain scan and investigation of the spinal fluid led to the diagnosis of Lyme disease. There was complete relief of symptoms after antimicrobial therapy.
f) Boston study of patients with memory and concentration deficit.
In a study of patients at a Boston, MA hospital, scientists looked at patients with a history of Lyme disease who had been treated with short courses of antibiotics. As well as many physical symptoms, such as musculoskeletal impairment, the patients were found to have highly significant deficits in concentration and memory. Those who had received treatment early in the course of the illness had less long-term impairment.
g) Japanese case study - An autopsied report.
At the Kanazawa University School of Medicine in Japan, a 36-year old woman with severe chronic Encephalomyelopathy was shown to have a very high level of antibodies to Bb. She showed severe cerebellar ataxia (walking and balance difficulties due to disease in the cerebellum) and profound mental deterioration. An autopsy 4 years later identified the presence of spirochaetes throughout the brain and spinal cord which, together with the antibody evidence, demonstrated that the Lyme bacteria had caused this encephalitic form of neuroborreliosis.
References
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A Controlled Study of Cognitive Deficits in Children with Chronic Lyme disease.
Tager, F.A., Fallon, B.A., Keilp, J., Rissenberg, M., Jones, C.R., Liebowitz, M.R.
J Neuropsychiatry Clin. Neurosci. 2001; Fall; 13(4): 500-7. -
ALS- Like Sequelae in Chronic Neuroborreliosis.
Hansel, Y., Ackerl, M., Stanek, G.
Wien. Med. Wochenschr. 1995; 145(7-8): 186-8. -
Lyme Psychosis.
van den Bergen, H.A., Smith, J.P., van der Zwan, A.
Ned. Tijdschr. Geneeskd. 1993; 137(41): 2098-100. -
Higher Prevalence of Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in Psychiatric Patients than in Healthy Subjects.
Hajek, T., Paskova, B., Janovska, D., Bahbouh, R., Hajek, P., Libiger, J., Hoschl, C.
Am. J. Psychiatry 2002; 159(2): 297-301. -
Borrelia burgdorferi Central Nervous System Infection Presenting as Organic Psychiatric Disorder.
Hess, A., Buchmann, J., Zettel, U.K., et al.
Biol. Psychiatry 1999; 45(6): 795. -
The Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Lyme disease. A Population-based Retrospective Cohort Study.
Shadick, N.A., Phillips, C.B., Logigian, E.L., Steere, A.C. et al.
Ann. Intern. Med. 1994; 121(8): 560-7. -
Borrelia burgdorferi Seropositive Chronic Encephalomyelopathy: Lyme Neuroborreliosis? An Autopsied Report.
Kobayashi, K., Mizukoshi, C., Aoki, T., Muramori, F.et al.
Dement. Geriatr. Cogn. Disord. 1997; 8(6): 384-90.
