Psychosis possibly associated with Fahr’s disease: A case report from the Himalayan country

Omkar Dhungel
Department of Psychiatry, Nepal Army Institute of Health Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal
Apeksha Aryal
Department of Psychiatry, Chakra Dev Hospital, Nuwakot, Nepal
Sulochana Joshi
Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal
Bastabika Neupane
Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal
Nidesh Sapkota
Department of Psychiatry, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal
Keywords:
Fahr's disease Psychosis Basal ganglia calcification

Abstract

Fahr’s disease (FD) is a progressive and degenerative familial autosomal dominant, rare neurological disorder, characterized by bilateral calcifications in the brain. FD may have neurological manifestations corresponding to the area of the brain involved. Significant proportions have neuro-psychiatric symptoms and psychosis is one. There is no specific treatment for FD but the neuropsychiatric manifestations can be managed. We present a case of a 30-year-old male with a 12-year history of psychosis, an episode of mania with psychotic symptoms, and an unsteady gait for 3 years. Baseline investigations were normal and MRI of the brain showed bilateral calcification involving significant brain areas suggestive of FD. He was managed with antipsychotics and antiepileptics. This case highlights the need for neuroimaging in cases of psychosis with neurological symptoms and puts forward the possibility of FD causing psychosis in this case.


How to Cite

Dhungel, O., Aryal, A., Joshi, S., Neupane, B., & Sapkota, N. (2025). Psychosis possibly associated with Fahr’s disease: A case report from the Himalayan country. Journal of Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal, 14(1), 59-61. https://doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v14i1.80943


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