Doctors agree Lyme disease patients at-risk for suicide are under-recognized group
There are many documented cases of patients with Lyme disease suffering from suicidal or homicidal tendencies. In the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, psychiatrist Robert Bransfield, MD, expresses his concern for this under-recognized patient population. “Suicidal and homicidal tendencies after Lyme disease are clearly an ignored problem that deserves greater attention.” [1]
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]
Suicidal and homicidal tendencies in Lyme disease patients is an ignored problem.
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]
- Why do only some patients with Lyme-associated diseases develop chronic symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, different types of psychiatric symptoms, suicidality, or homicidality?
- What is the exact pathophysiology and what are the most effective diagnostic and treatment approaches?
- 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:
- Bransfield RC. Suicide and Lyme and associated diseases. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:1575-1587.
- Munir A, Aadil M, Rehan Khan A. Suicidal and homicidal tendencies after Lyme disease: an ignored problem. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:2069-2071.
- Banerjee R, Liu JJ, Minhas HM. Lyme neuroborreliosis presenting with alexithymia and suicide attempts. J Clin Psychiatry. 2013;74(10):981.
- 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.
- Fallon BA, Schwartzberg M, Bransfield R, et al. Late-stage neuropsychiatric Lyme borreliosis. Differential diagnosis and treatment. Psychosomatics. 1995;36(3):295-300.
- Bransfield RC. Author’s reply. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:2071.
Stuart Ireson
04/26/2021 (3:21 pm)
Too late for me – I developed horrendous constant visual disturbances accompanied by an inexplicable feeling of horror and absolute dread for 2 years after contracting lyme disease. Even though I was one of the lucky few who received an NHS diagnosis, doctors still insisted my symptoms were psychosomatic and were on the verge of sectioning me under the mental health act. The thought of being institutionalised while suffering these horrendous symptoms and the accompanying neuropsychiatric anxiety and dread from my inflamed, infected brain pushed me over the edge and I made a last minute, panic-driven suicide attempt by jumping off a bridge. Amonth of ceftriaxone while I was in hospital with numerous broken bones restored my sanity, although I still battle with other aspects of the disease. The repercussions of feel as if they have destroyed my sense of self, well-being and body image to the point that my PTSD and distress is so great I cannot even try to treat the Lyme properly. I have had 6 years of constant trauma and despair since with no end in sight. I still cannot believe that a disease that was discovered as far back as the 60s has been so neglected, so weirdly politicised and still so poorly handled by medical authorities around the world. The amount ruined lives is staggering.