Psychosis in a patient with Usher syndrome: A case report

Abstract

The present report is the case of a 26-year-old man, born with Usher syndrome.The patient had had a significant hearing impairment since birth and had developed retinitis pigmentosa. He had originally been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and treated with antidepressants, with no subsequent improvement in his mental state. Following a deterioration in his mental state he was admitted for reassessment at the Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital, Birmingham, and antidepressants were stopped. It subsequently became apparent from observations, interviews with the patient and information from the patient's carers and relatives that he had a psychotic illness. Treatment was started with the antipsychotic drug risperidone, after which he showed significant improvement. The association between Usher syndrome and psychosis is discussed.