Psychosis Following a Cerebellar Stroke Revealing a Vertebral Artery Dissection

Abstract

ABSTRACT The cerebellum plays a role not only in the control of balance and intentional voluntary movement but also plays an important role in the control of cognitive and emotional processes. We report a 62-year-old man who developed persistent persecutory delusions, hallucinations, cognitive impairment and flattened affect following a left bilateral cerebellar stroke. This is the second case reported of psychosis secondary to cerebellar vascular infarction due to vertebral dissection. Based on the distribution of the patient’s lesions, we suggest that his corresponding symptoms are a result of a disruption to cerebellar pathways. There is no consensus on the preferred pharmacological treatment of psychotic symptoms secondary to cerebellar lesions.