Volume: 2 Issue: 4
Year: 2025, Page: 185-187, Doi: https://doi.org/10.71325/ajjms.v2i4.25.43
Received: Aug. 27, 2025 Accepted: Nov. 20, 2025 Published: Dec. 30, 2025
Viral encephalitis is an inflammatory brain condition presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms like altered mental status and seizures. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS) can mimic these symptoms, often delaying diagnosis. Organic Mood Disorder (OMD) – Mania is a secondary mood disturbance caused by underlying medical illness. Case: A 36-year-old male with a 15-year history of alcohol and tobacco use presented with agitation, disorientation, and verbal outbursts. Initially diagnosed as alcohol withdrawal delirium, he was started on benzodiazepines and antipsychotics. Persistence of delirium and new-onset seizures prompted CSF analysis, revealing varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis. IV Acyclovir was started, resolving the delirium. underlying manic symptoms - elevated mood, irritability, hyperactivity, and decreased sleep - suggesting secondary mania. Treatment with Quetiapine, Valproate, and Chlorpromazine led to stabilization, and he was discharged with psychiatric follow-up.
Keywords: Viral encephalitis; Organic mood disorders; Alcohol withdrawal syndrome; Delirium tremens; Neuropsychiatric manifestation of Viral encephalitis
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© 2025 Published by Laxmi Memorial Education Trust. This is an open-access article under CC BY 4.0 license. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
M S Raghuram. Diagnostic Challenges in Overlapping Neuropsychiatric Syndromes: Mood Disorder Secondary to Viral Encephalitis Presenting as Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium Tremens. AJ J Med Sci 2025;2(4):185-187