Lithium Toxicity: The Illusion of PTSD
- 1. Department of Surgery, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, USA
- 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, USA
Abstract
This case reviews a patient with posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder and hypertension who experienced an acute decompensation in his mental health status while enrolled in our Veterans Treatment Court. The symptoms were attributed to his posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis however he was also receiving lithium to address his co-morbid bipolar disorder diagnosis. This case emphasizes the potential danger of misdiagnosing signs and symptoms of chronic lithium toxicity when treating patients with a concurrent psychiatric diagnosis such as posttraumatic stress disorder.