Lyme Disease Suicidal Behaviors: Psychiatric Risks Explained
Lyme disease suicidal behaviors have been reported in clinical studies, raising concern about the psychiatric impact of Lyme and associated diseases.
In a 1990 report, Logigian and colleagues from Tufts University School of Medicine described rage and behavioral changes in patients with chronic neurologic Lyme disease symptoms. “Eight patients had excessive daytime sleepiness, and seven had extreme irritability. They became angry over circumstances that previously caused only minor annoyance.” [1]
In 1994, Fallon and Nields described a wide range of neuropsychiatric complications, including paranoia, dementia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and major depression.
High Rates of Suicidal Behaviors in Lyme Disease
In 2017, Bransfield reported suicidal and homicidal behaviors in patients with Lyme and related coinfections.
In a cohort of 253 patients:
- 43% were suicidal
- 32% were suicidal but not homicidal
- 11% were both suicidal and homicidal
- 25% had explosive anger without suicidality
- 97% reported depression after infection
- Patients were ill an average of 8.4 years before diagnosis and treatment
Bransfield also described a broad spectrum of psychiatric symptoms including anxiety, intrusive thoughts, mood instability, and chronic pain.
Impact on Children with Lyme Disease
Children with Lyme disease may also be affected.
A controlled study found that 41% of children diagnosed with Lyme disease reported suicidal thoughts, and 11% had made suicidal gestures.
These findings highlight the importance of recognizing psychiatric symptoms in pediatric patients.
Why Lyme Disease May Affect Mental Health
Lyme disease suicidal behaviors may be linked to physiologic changes triggered by infection.
Bransfield notes that chronic infections may lead to inflammation, cytokine activation, metabolic disruption, and changes in neural circuits.
These biological factors may contribute to depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk.
Barriers to Recognition
There is currently no comprehensive system for tracking suicide or suicide attempts in patients with tick-borne illnesses.
Bransfield suggests that lack of recognition by clinicians, family members, and healthcare systems may contribute to increased risk.
Greater awareness and systematic evaluation are needed to better understand the scope of the problem.
Clinical Perspective
Lyme disease suicidal behaviors require careful clinical evaluation and should not be dismissed as unrelated psychiatric conditions.
Clinicians should consider underlying infection, immune dysfunction, and co-infections when evaluating patients with new or worsening psychiatric symptoms.
Early recognition and a comprehensive treatment approach may help reduce risk and improve outcomes.
Clinical Takeaway
Lyme disease suicidal behaviors are a serious and underrecognized complication of tick-borne illness.
Improved awareness, earlier diagnosis, and integrated medical and psychiatric care may help reduce morbidity and potentially life-threatening outcomes.
References
- Logigian EL, Kaplan RF, Steere AC. Chronic neurologic manifestations of Lyme disease. N Engl J Med. 1990;323(21):1438-1444.
- Fallon BA, Nields JA. Lyme disease: a neuropsychiatric illness. Am J Psychiatry. 1994;151(11):1571-1583.
- Bransfield RC. Suicide and Lyme and associated diseases. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:1575-1587.
- Tager FA, Fallon BA, Keilp J, Rissenberg M, Jones CR, Liebowitz MR. Cognitive deficits in children with chronic Lyme disease. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2001;13(4):500-507.
Related Reading
- Suicidal behaviors in patients with Lyme and associated diseases
- Lyme disease patients struggle with depression
- Brain fog in Lyme disease
Crisis Support and Safety
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self-harm, or thoughts of harming others, it is important to seek help immediately.
- Call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.)
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if there is immediate danger
- Contact a trusted family member, friend, or healthcare professional right away
Patients with Lyme disease may experience psychiatric symptoms related to infection, inflammation, or co-infections. These symptoms are real, and help is available. A comprehensive medical and psychiatric evaluation is recommended.
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
Three thumbs up Dr. C. Way to go!!! Thanks for writing this and thanks more for caring about the patients. Amazing you are!
This article is Spot On. I did not know what anhedonia was until I looked it up today as an “Inability to experience pleasure”. This describes how I felt for 10 years as well as most of the other symptoms mentioned. These suicides are so sad…and so preventable. Thank you.
While all the articles and research are very encouraging, the resources for where to get help is still very
difficult to find. Wish more information as to how to get connected with physicians who ARE aware and specialize in chronic lyme symptoms was available.
any luck on finding this information?