Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome Presenting as Delirium With Psychosis and Agitation in the Postpartum Period.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), which was first described in 1996, is a neurologic condition characterized by a combination of clinical and neuroimaging findings. PRES may arise in the context of preeclampsia, eclampsia, renal failure, and sepsis, among other conditions. Neuropsychiatric symptoms of PRES include altered mental status, agitation, and in some cases psychosis. PRES occurring in the postpartum period is understudied, especially with regard to its psychiatric manifestations. We aim to add to the literature a case of PRES associated with psychosis and agitation in a postpartum woman, highlighting clinical implications and offering suggestions for practice. A female in her late 20s, with no significant psychiatric or medical history, presented to the hospital at 29 weeks and one day of gestation following a witnessed seizure. She was found to be hypertensive and hyponatremic, was diagnosed with eclampsia, and underwent an emergent cesarean section due to fetal malpresentation. The next day, the patient developed paranoia with acute agitation, and the psychiatry team diagnosed her with delirium with psychosis/agitation secondary to her underlying medical condition. She required intramuscular medications for agitation, was placed in restraints, and was transferred to the ICU for sedation. Subsequently, CT and MRI scans of her head both indicated that she had developed PRES. The patient's delirium and psychotic behavior resolved after appropriate treatment of her eclampsia. To our knowledge, this case report is the second documented case in the literature, of a patient who presented with PRES characterized by agitation and psychotic features in the postpartum period. Due to the significant overlap in symptoms between delirium and postpartum psychosis, this case highlights the crucial importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment of PRES in the postpartum period. The case also speaks to the importance of differentiating postpartum psychosis associated with a primary psychiatric disorder from delirium arising in postpartum patients with or without a previous psychiatric history.

No Little Feet: Managing Pseudocyesis in a Homeless, Acutely Manic Patient with Schizoaffective Disorder, Bipolar Type.

Pseudocyesis is a complex psychiatric manifestation of the physical symptoms of pregnancy. Although not pregnant, the pseudocyetic patient displays signs and symptoms consistent with pregnancy, such as abdominal distention, cramping, and/or sensations of fetal movement. Pseudocyesis is more common in developing countries than in the developed world, possibly due to the importance that traditional societies attach to childbearing and the low social status that these societies assign to women who are unable to produce children. Socioeconomically disadvantaged women in developed countries may also be at increased risk. Although the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management of pseudocyesis are poorly understood, it manifests with real symptoms, which may complicate both the patient's perspective about her condition and the medical and psychiatric teams' approach to the patient. This case report is one of only a few in the literature to present an example of pseudocyesis developing in the context of acute mania. After describing the patient's clinical course, from her initial symptoms of pseudocyesis to their eventual resolution, this report will provide recommendations for the sensitive care of patients with this rare but significant condition.