Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on October 13, 2007
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2008 43(1):31-33; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm150
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Letter to the Editor
A clinical lesson: Glioblastoma multiforme masquerading as depression in a chronic alcoholic
1 Psychiatric University Clinic, University of Basel, Switzerland
2 Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II/Addiction Medicine, Christian Doppler Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Wilhelm Klein-Strasse 27, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland. Tel: +41 (0) 61 325 5402; Fax: +41 (0) 61 325 5405; E-mail: benedikt.habermeyer{at}upkbs.ch
Received 25 June 2007;
first review notified 7 September 2007; in revised form 11 September 2007;
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Abstract |
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Aims: To highlight the need to consider other medical conditions when the presentation initially appears to be alcohol-related. Method: We report the case of a 34-year-old male alcoholic, who presented with clinical depression and later a delirious state, and was subsequently diagnosed to have a right frontal glioblastoma multiforme. Conclusions: Psychiatric patients, especially alcoholics, may present with physical and neurological symptoms in the emergency department, which are linked by the examiner to the toxic effects of alcohol. However, consideration should be given to the possibility that the symptoms are due to other severe medical conditions.