Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification is a syndrome consisting of
bilateral basal ganglia calcifications, neuropsychiatric abnormalities,
disturbances of movement, and normal calcium and phosphorus metabolism. The
best described neuropsychiatric alterations are dementia and an organic
psychosis. Organic mood disorder has been reported less often, and mania
secondary to idiopathic basal ganglia calcification has not been noted
previously. The authors describe five patients with idiopathic basal
ganglia calcification and organic mood changes, including one patient with
secondary mania. Symptoms of idiopathic basal ganglia calcification
resemble those of other disorders affecting subcortical structures and
support an association between mood, affect, cognition, and the
extrapyramidal nuclear system. Treatment may ameliorate the mood
disorder.Abstract Teaser