Thyrotoxic psychosis in an elderly woman and haloperidol use: a case report

Abstract

Thyrotoxic patients may occasionally present with affective disorders. Here, we discuss a case of a 61-year-old woman with misidentification and persecutory delusions, olfactory hallucinations, and apathy associated with thyrotoxicosis. After definitive antithyroid and antipsychotic agent haloperidol treatments, the patient was released within 4weeks. Thyrotoxic psychosis with apathy is a rare entity that can be misdiagnosed as affective psychosis. Haloperidol may be an alternative treatment in resolving psychotic features beside the treatment of hyperthyroid state.