Work

Somatic Symptom Disorder as a Prodrome of Alzheimer Disease and Successful Treatment of Pain and Agitation With Electroconvulsive Therapy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia can be heterogeneous and hard to treat, though electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is becoming more widely accepted as a viable treatment option. Here, we describe a patient with Alzheimer disease (AD) who developed Somatic Symptom Disorder as a prodrome to cognitive and functional decline, though atypical, primary affective disorder in AD was also on the differential. This patient further developed debilitating anxiety and agitation that was refractory to multiple behavioral and pharmacological interventions. ECT was able to treat the patient's neuropsychiatric symptoms, resulting in sustained, full remission with minimal transient, cognitive side effects. This case depicts a rare presentation of AD and further adds to the growing body of literature that suggests ECT is safe and effective for treating neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia.

Source: Journal of Ect

DOI: 10.1097/yct.0000000000001229

Authors: Daniel W. Fisher, Anna Borisovskaya, Elisabeth Lindley, Kimiko Domoto-Reilly

Institution: University of Washington

Language: English

Topic: Electroconvulsive Therapy Studies

Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7124933932