Psychiatric Presentation in a Patient with Myotonic Dystrophy: A Case Report

Abstract

Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a progressive life-threatening disorder that affects several systems in the human body. Besides physical involvements, previous studies reported various psychiatric and cognitive presentations in these patients. We presented a 65-year-old patient with adult-onset DM who suffered from multisystem involvement. She has also experienced a series of psychiatric symptoms including depressed mood, insomnia, fatigue, reference delusion, visual and auditory hallucinations besides impaired cognitive functions. With the diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic features, she was treated with Sertraline and Haloperidol. The cognitive impairment was continued after improvement in mood, and donepezil 5 mg was prescribed. Whereas patients with DM1 and with psychiatric manifestations have significantly lower function than those without psychiatric symptoms, clinicians should be aware of the mental status examination and eventual psychiatric disorders in these patients. Our case presentation suggests a multidisciplinary approach to these patients to provide comprehensive health care.