We reviewed the records of 42 patients with Wilson's disease
participating in a zinc acetate treatment protocol and interviewed 17 of
them. Five of the patients studied were asymptomatic. A significant number
of symptomatic patients (64.8%) reported psychiatric symptoms at the time
of initial presentation. These symptoms were severe enough to warrant
psychiatric intervention in almost half of all symptomatic patients before
the diagnosis of Wilson's disease was made. Personality changes,
particularly irritability and aggression, were most commonly described
(45.9%), followed by depression (27%). Cognitive changes, anxiety,
psychosis, and catatonia, while less frequent, also occurred. These data
underscore the need to include Wilson's disease in the differential
diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.Abstract Teaser