Doctors agree Lyme disease patients at-risk for suicide are under-recognized group

Bransfield’s colleagues from Howard University, Rush University Medical Center and the University of North Dakota agree with his assessment, stating, “We would like to applaud the author for conducting such an important study by performing a comprehensive assessment of suicide and its association with Lyme-associated diseases (LADs).” [2]

In their article “Suicidal and homicidal tendencies after Lyme disease: an ignored problem,” these three psychiatrists listed published case reports supporting Bransfield’s concerns:

• “A 44-year-old male without any past psychiatric history presented with a third unsuccessful suicide attempt and was later diagnosed as having  Borrelia infection.” One month of medical therapy with intravenous ceftriaxone resulted in improvements in his mental status and resolution of suicidal ideation. [3]

• “Patients with Lyme borreliosis can experience psychiatric issues during both acute and late phases of the disease, most common being depression. In some cases, it slowly progresses to severity and suicidality … but in some cases, it is unpredictable.” [4]

• “[Two] patients were diagnosed with Lyme disease and appropriate treatment was offered. A few months after the treatment, both patients developed severe depression along with suicidal threats and an attempt by one patient. Evidence of persistent Lyme borreliosis was found in both cases.” [5]

In the third highlighted case, patient A was also suicidal, violent, and physically assaultive to her son. Patient B, who was followed over a span of 30 years, “was highly suicidal, had horrific intrusive images of killing others, and had violent impulses which were eliminated with treatment,” explains Bransfield. [2] Both patients recovered with antibiotic and psychotropic treatment, which “was clearly life saving.”

[bctt tweet=”An estimated 1200 suicides take place each year in the US due to Lyme and associated diseases. ” username=”DrDanielCameron”]

Bransfield raises several questions: [6]

1. Why do only some patients with Lyme-associated diseases develop chronic symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, different types of psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, or homicidality?
2. What is the exact pathophysiology and what are the most effective diagnostic and treatment approaches?
3. How many patients are actually impacted by these conditions and to what extent?

Related Articles:

Suicidal behaviors in patients with Lyme and associated diseases

Lyme disease patients struggle with depression

References:

1. Bransfield RC. Suicide and Lyme and associated diseases. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:1575-1587.
2. Munir A, Aadil M, Rehan Khan A. Suicidal and homicidal tendencies after Lyme disease: an ignored problem. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:2069-2071.
3. Banerjee R, Liu JJ, Minhas HM. Lyme neuroborreliosis presenting with alexithymia and suicide attempts. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(10):981.
4. Juchnowicz D, Rudnik I, Czernikiewicz A, Zajkowska J, Pancewicz SA. [Mental disorders in the course of lyme borreliosis and tick borne encephalitis]. Przegl Epidemiol. 2002;56 Suppl 1:37-50.
5. Fallon BA, Schwartzberg M, Bransfield R, et al. Late-stage neuropsychiatric Lyme borreliosis. Differential diagnosis and treatment. Psychosomatics. 1995;36(3):295-300.
6. Bransfield RC. Author’s reply. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:2071.