¿Compulsion or perseveration? A case report. (1st June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruiz Moliner, A.M.; Pérez Romero, A.; Carranza Pérez-Tinao, A.; González Garrido, S.
• Is Part Of: European psychiatry. Volume 65:Supplement 1(2022)
• Page Start: S647
• Page End: S648
• Publication Date: 2022-06-01
• Subjects: Obsessive rituals -- frontotemporal dementia -- obsessive-compulsive disorder -- perseveration; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1661
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0924-9338

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: 54-year-old female patient who came to hospital due to psychopathological decompensation of her Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), after 35 years under follow-up. Parkinson´s disease. Psychopharmacological treatment: sertraline 100 mg (1-0-0); lorazepam 2 mg (1-1-1); Levodopa/carbidopa 100/25 mg (1-1-1). Distressed at first examination. She described increase in rituals, important intake restriction, weight impact and difficulties in home management with functional repercussions. Psychopathological exploration: conscious, oriented, and approachable. Circumstantial speech with no obsessive ideas. Increased frequency of repetitive behaviours led to a functional deterioration, becoming dependent for activities of daily living. Elevated anxiety. No major mood disorder. No psychotic symptoms. Bradykinesia. Hypophagia without anorexia. Admission is carried out. Good evolution: improvement in motor symptoms and intake restoration. No changes in repetitive behaviours. Objectives: To discuss the differential diagnosis between OCD and Frontotemporal Dementia. Methods: Repetitive behaviours were initially understood as rituals typical of OCD. However, the absence of both a fixed pattern of behaviour and a structured obsessive ideation, made us consider the possibility of frontal perseveration behaviours. For this reason, a neuropsychological evaluation and a functional neuroimaging test were performed: Test Mo-CA: 9/30 with striking failures in executive functions. SPECT: mild uptake defect in the left frontotemporal region. Results: Finally, in view of the impairment in executive functions and the frontal defects in neuroimaging, we change the initial diagnosis of OCD towards a Neurocognitive Disorder of probable frontotemporal origin. Conclusions: The presented case evidenced the importance of differentiating obsessive compulsions from frontal perseverance to guide the differential diagnosis, given the implications for therapeutic management and prognosis. Disclosure: No significant relationships.