Antineuronal autoantibodies induced paraneoplasic syndrome in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: case report

Abstract

Secondary psychiatric symptoms are usually suspected when there is an atypical presentation of the symptoms or a lack of response to psychotropic medication. Case presentation: Our case is about a woman aged 62 years old, with a history of mental disorder who presented psychiatric symptomatology after years of being stabilized by antipsychotics. She was later investigated due to a mass in her breast. Carcinoma was diagnosed, and her psychiatric symptomatology was resolved after the tumerectomy. Discussion: The therapeutic difficulty is the major problem of psychic disorders in the context of paraneoplastic syndrome. Several literature review have suggested a relationship between schizophrenia and antineuronal antibodies in the context of paraneoplastic syndrome. Treating the tumor can solve psychiatric symptoms better than psychotic treatment. Conclusions: The aim of our study is to highlight the importance of a complete medical evaluation to identify the psychiatric presentations of organic disorders associated with psychiatric manifestation and to ensure an early diagnosis.