Suicidal and Homicidal Concerns in Lyme Disease
Welcome to another selection from my book “An Expert’s Guide on Navigating Lyme Disease.” The book highlights findings from my first 600 Lyme disease science blogs. In this episode, I discuss suicidal and homicidal concerns reported in patients with Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses.
Dr. Robert Bransfield of Rutgers–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, has described suicidal and homicidal concerns in patients with Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses in his clinical practice. Likewise, in my practice I have seen patients struggling with suicidal thinking during the course of untreated or poorly recognized Lyme disease.
These psychiatric symptoms may occur alongside other Lyme disease symptoms, including fatigue, neurological complaints, and cognitive changes.
Lyme disease can affect the nervous system and mental health. In rare cases, untreated infection may lead to severe psychiatric symptoms including depression, suicidal thinking, or aggressive impulses.
Suicidal and Homicidal Behaviors Reported in Lyme Disease
Dr. Robert Bransfield reported observing suicidal and homicidal behaviors among patients with Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses. In a group of 253 patients:
- 43% reported suicidal thoughts
- 32% were suicidal but not homicidal
- 11% were both suicidal and homicidal
- 25% experienced explosive anger but were not suicidal or homicidal
- 10% had pre-existing depression
- 97% reported depression after infection
Patients were ill an average of 8.4 years before receiving diagnosis and treatment. Read more.
Three Psychiatrists Report Similar Cases
Three psychiatrists reported published case studies supporting Bransfield’s concerns (Munir et al., 2017).
“A 44-year-old male without any past psychiatric history presented with a third unsuccessful suicide attempt and was later diagnosed as having a Borrelia infection” (Bransfield, 2017).
After one month of intravenous ceftriaxone therapy, the patient experienced improvement in mental status and resolution of suicidal ideation (Banerjee 2013).
Dr. Brian Fallon described two similar cases in a 1995 report. One patient experienced severe suicidal thoughts and intrusive violent imagery, while another demonstrated violent and assaultive behavior. Both patients improved following combined antibiotic and psychiatric treatment.
[bctt tweet=”Dr. Robert Bransfield reports observing suicidal and homicidal concerns in patients with Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses.” username=”DrDanielCameron”]
Case Report: Homicide, Assault, and Suicide
An article titled “A Fatal Case of Late Stage Lyme Borreliosis and Substance Abuse” describes a patient exhibiting aggressiveness, violence, and homicidal behavior.
Like many Lyme disease patients, the individual experienced a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Early Lyme disease testing can sometimes be negative, contributing to delays in recognition of infection.
The patient’s illness progressed with increasing neurological and psychiatric symptoms. “Further disease progression contributed to him feeling desperate as a result of multiple late-stage symptoms,” wrote Bransfield and colleagues.
Several case reports describe tragic outcomes in patients with untreated infection. See additional discussions of fatal Lyme disease cases.
Dr. Bransfield has described a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with Lyme disease, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Panic attacks
- Posttraumatic stress symptoms
- Cognitive impairment
- Sleep disorders
- Addiction or substance abuse
- Depersonalization or dissociation
- Violence or suicidal behavior
“The pathophysiological effects of the infection resulted in an increased number and severity of multisystem symptoms, disability, and substance abuse,” the authors wrote.
Bransfield and colleagues emphasize that earlier diagnosis and treatment may help reduce the risk of psychiatric deterioration and substance abuse.
“More effective diagnosis and treatment and attention to substance abuse potential in these patients may help prevent some cases of addictive disorders, substance abuse, and death.”
Psychiatric symptoms have also been described in other chronic infectious illnesses. See discussion of mental health in Lyme disease and COVID-19.
Lyme disease can affect the brain as well as the body. When infection involves the nervous system, patients may experience mood changes, anxiety, cognitive symptoms, or severe depression. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may help reduce these neuropsychiatric complications.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people experiencing distress.
Anyone in the United States can call, text, or chat by dialing 988. The service operates 24 hours a day and provides help for:
- Mental health distress
- Thoughts of suicide
- Substance use crisis
- Emotional distress
- Concern for a loved one who may need support
Related Articles:
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
Thank you for the statistics Drs. I have been saying these things as many Tick disease experts have for years. But the public likes print, not talk.
I am glad my long term colleague Dr. Robert Bransfield has taken the time to document his lifelong career as a psychiatrist treating Lyme disease.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546819/#top
I can definitely understand this. Diagnosed first with TM. 6 months later, no, it’s MS; try 2 Ocrevus infusions. Deteriorate. Every single day. Telling doctors. Showing doctors. After 2 infusions to “stop progression”, I DETERIORATE to the point I can’t stand, at all. What do they say “you don’t want Ocrevus, fine, we won’t do Ocrevus. If you do not, you will get worse.” Uh . I haven’t. It was due June 1. I’m in complete and utter limbo/lost/broke/insurance running out/forced to stop working… all within 2 years. I walled in with extreme lower back pain only. Now this? And “they” don’t “listen”.
I’m so mad! Insurance, CDC, doctors, hospitals, greed. NOBODY seems to do the RIGHT things. $$$$$$$$$$
So, yeah. I’ve always been a fighter. I’ve had 3 near death experiences already (hence why I beg to see ifd doctor that saved me 20 years ago/bacterial indocartitis).
But this?! And the sheer FIGHT to “advocate for self” all the while losing everything (including brain) and “take care of and focus on self). A joke. I haven’t rested or been near peace since June 2021.
If I had a gun here, I’d probably of grabbed it by now.
I look at massive amount of pills I have to take now, and I wonder, “hmm. How many? What combo? I sure don’t want to mess it up by making myself miserably sick(ER) and not dead.
I wonder every morning why I woke?! Come on God!
I’m a fighter. This passes me off! I have a grandson I have custody of. I’m single. I hang on for him but is that best?
I have no money to pay a lyme specialist. At least not now. I have no money to travel. I have no wheelchair, ramp, car, car accessories.
I wish I could attach a video of my legs, now.
I, like so many I guess, will just die from thus, one way or another.
“You can’t die from MS”. SURE. “She died due to complications of MS”. I do see that clearly now.
I have no desire to kill anyone, yet. I have turned what they’re saying is “mean”. Duh. I’m mad!