Demons of the past—Signs of childhood trauma reflected in psychosis due to vascular cognitive disorder?

Abstract

Behavioral and psychological syndromes such as depression and psychosis often occur along with cognitive (esp. executive) deficits in vascular cognitive disorder (VCD) in the elderly. We present the case of an 85-year-old woman with deficits in executive functions as well as a persistent and clearly circumscribed paranoid hallucinatory syndrome (most probably due to VCD) which could not be adequately treated with antipsychotic medication. The patient also suffered from severe depression (independent of psychotic symptoms). Both psychosis and depression were successfully managed in a home treatment based on Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (FACT). Interestingly, a thematic association between the delusional contents and early childhood traumata could be reconstructed, and late-onset trauma-related symptoms could be successfully treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as well. In sum, behavioral management of psychotic syndromes is possible in the absence of adequate pharmacological treatment options, and multiprofessional and person-centered home treatment may be successful in the elderly, even in severe and complex disorders.