Luís Moreira Gonçalves
Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
Alberto Tosoni
Acute General Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.

Abstract:

We report the clinical case where the sudden onset of a Cotard syndrome in a 69 year old lady lead to the discovery of a multifocal glioblastoma in the right temporo-parietal lobe. Cotard’s syndrome is a rare psychiatric disorder in which the afflicted patient believes he or she is dead. These nihilistic thoughts are the expression of a rare syndrome first described by Jules Cotard in late XIX century. The Cotard’s syndrome has been studied and it seems that its psychopathology can be ascribed to the temporo-parietal cortex. Although the Cotard’s syndrome is not part of the DSM-V it is common in psychiatric literature and is included in ICD-10-CM within code F22. It has been described associated with organic lesions and atrophy of the non-dominant temporo-parietal cortex, in pathologies like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, subdural hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, brain atrophy and cerebral infarction among others.

Keywords:multifocal glioblastoma ,temporo-parietal ,occupational therapy assessment ,stroke team ,neuropsychiatric condition