Mental Distress and Medical Illness in Children and Adolescents with MoyaMoya Disease

Abstract

Background: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a progressive vascular disorder in which the carotid artery becomes narrowed, reducing blood flow to the brain. This most commonly presents as stroke in children and young adults and typically occurs between 5 and 10 years of age in children and between 30 and 50 years of age in adults. MMD survivors have the highest prevalence of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder {PTSD}. This case aims to increase awareness of an unusual presentation of MMD as a psychiatric disorder. Case Presentation: A 16-year-old Dominican boy presented to the psychiatric ER due to mood dysregulation and aggression. He had a medical history of MMD, Sickle cell disease, Frontal lobe epilepsy, and a cerebrovascular accident in 2019. He was all right till 2019; then, he experienced a cerebrovascular accident/stroke, learned of his diagnosis, and underwent immediate neurosurgical intervention. His home medications include Aspirin, Valproate, and Hydroxyurea. He reported recent aggression and stated he started “beating his brother and would not stop.” He said he often had terrible headaches, and his attack worsened. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened his anxiety and depression. The patient was diagnosed with Mood disorder due to a medical condition. His treatment plan included continued outpatient monitoring with a psychiatrist and continuation of medication. Discussion: Only psychiatric presentations of MMD are rare in literature. The clinical symptoms of MMD include ischemic stroke, TIA’s, hemorrhagic stroke, epilepsy, headache, and cognitive dysfunction, and they vary depending on age. In children, hyperactivity, impaired concentration, anxiety, mood lability, and poor academic performance have also been described. Identifying and treating psychiatric symptoms is essential to improve the quality of life in patients with MMD.