First Psychotic Episode: Panhypopituitarism and Psychosis in a Female Patient
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51338/rppsm.731Keywords:
Hypopituitarism, Psychotic DisordersAbstract
Endocrine and psychiatric disorders frequently overlap, and neuropsychiatric symptoms can be the primary manifestation of an underlying endocrinopathy. This case report describes a 69-year-old Caucasian female admitted to a psychiatry department with severe persecutory and mystical delusions, auditory-verbal and visual hallucinations, and alopecia. Further investigation revealed a psychotic disorder attributed to panhypopituitarism, secondary to poor adherence to hormone replacement therapy following a pituitary resection in 1990. Following treatment optimization, the patient showed remarkable clinical improvement and was discharged after 31 days. This case highlights that while psychosis is a rare presentation of panhypopituitarism, it is crucial to rule out treatable organic etiologies in patients presenting with acute psychiatric features, preventing diagnostic delays and ensuring appropriate targeted therapy.
Downloads
References
Nwokolo M, Fletcher J. A rare case of hypopituitarism with psychosis. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2013;2013:130007. doi: 10.1530/edm-13-0007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1530/EDM-13-0007
Kate S, Dhanwal DK, Kumar S, Bharti P. Acute psychosis as a presentation of hypopituitarism. BMJ Case Rep. 2013;2013:bcr2012008516. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-008516. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2012-008516
Snyder PJ. Clinical manifestations of hypopituitarism. Waltham: UpToDate; 2022 [cited 2026 May 20]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-of-hypopituitarism
Anglin RE, Rosebush PI, Mazurek MF. The neuropsychiatric profile of Addison's disease: revisiting a forgotten phenomenon. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2006;18:450-9. doi: 10.1176/jnp.2006.18.4.450. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/jnp.2006.18.4.450
American Board of Internal Medicine. ABIM Laboratory Test Reference Ranges. Philadelphia: ABIM; 2024 [cited 2026 May 20]. Available from: https://www.abim.org
Alexander J. Panhypopituitarism and psychosis in a male patient. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2010;44:393-4. doi: 10.3109/00048671003614205. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/00048671003614205
Bulow B, Hagmar L, Orbaek P, Osterberg K, Erfurth EM. High incidence of mental disorders, reduced mental well-being and cognitive function in hypopituitary women with GH deficiency treated for pituitary disease. Clin Endocrinol. 2002;56:183-93. doi: 10.1046/j.0300-0664.2001.01461.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.0300-0664.2001.01461.x
Leigh H, Kramer SI. The psychiatric manifestations of endocrine disease. Adv Intern Med. 1984;29:413-45.
Nieman LK. Clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency in adults. Waltham: UpToDate; 2023 [cited 2026 May 20]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-of-adrenal-insufficiency-in-adults
Dissanayake SA, Leiberman DM, Heath D. Hypopituitarism with paranoid psychosis: a description of two cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1969;32:233-5. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.32.3.233. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.32.3.233
Reus VI. Behavioral disturbances associated with endocrine disorders. Annu Rev Med. 1986;37:205-14. doi: 10.1146/annurev.me.37.020186.001225. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.me.37.020186.001225
Howard R, Rabins PV, Seeman MV, Jeste DV; International Late-Onset Schizophrenia Group. Late-onset schizophrenia and very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis: an international consensus. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157:172-8. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.157.2.172. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.157.2.172
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787





