Cotard’s Delusion with Sequelae of Adult Onset Failure to Thrive: A Case Report

Abstract

Patients can present with chief complaints and symptoms that differ from the eventual diagnoses. The differences between aetiologies versus complications must be appreciated through careful evaluation and use of clinical investigations, laboratory testing, trial of hypotheses, and clinical gestalt. Herein, this article discusses the case of a 58-year old individual who presented with impaired physical functioning, malnutrition, depression, and cognitive impairment. These four symptoms are known collectively as failure to thrive, and they often portend adverse patient outcomes. The internal medicine care team initially attributed the failure to thrive to the combination of an ongoing cervicofacial infection and a pre-existing mood disorder, but its true aetiology was more complex. In the context of various physical and psychiatric health derangements, the patient displayed clear signs of a rare disorder called Cotard’s syndrome. Due to the concern of the care team and the patient’s acting medical power of attorney, the eventual working diagnosis was made, and electroconvulsive therapy and aripiprazole combination therapy initiated, resulting in significant and improved outcomes. In addition to discussing the patient’s course of care, this case report also addresses the caution inherent in prescribing medications, the evaluation of decision making capacity, and the utilisation of a medical power of attorney. The authors also present their thoughts on minimising inefficiencies in care delivery to better the patient’s health outcomes.