Sunday, January 17, 2010 Whitedog asks

Q: does extreme dieting and weight loss trigger schizophrenia?

My mother is 84 and in good physical health, lives in a senior village apartment and was content until recently. Last May, she began a 600 calorie/day diet of mostly fruit and vegetables, wating to attain her youthful weight of 110 lbs. She lost it in 7 months and is now at 107 lbs. Last September she developed severe chronic tinitis causing her some suicidal thoughts when unbearable. Three weeks ago she began bizarre behavior, ideas and plans including spending inordinate amounts of money on non essentials; having "garage" sale from apartment items which she believes will pay for new car, new bus for the church, and two exotic trips; writing a book on her life; documenting every daily event by camera; becoming a motivational speaker for tinnitus; having a bake sale, leading to her own catering business; having a two hour self-pleasuringsex session; wanting a face lift; born again in religion.

She voluntarily saw my psychologist who suspects schizophrenia due to the extreme and fast weight loss. Anybody know of this? She did have this same reaction in her 40's when taking decadron following back surgery.

Her tinitus is in regression for 10 days now and she credits her life change. She does not want to return to "normal" in lifestyle, but I fear she will spend her life savings and be in trouble.

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Answers (4)

Christina Bruni, Health Guide

1/19/10 9:33pm

Hello Whitedog,

I believe it is possible but not common to develop mental or emotional problems at your mother's age, including something called dementia-related psychosis which is NOT to be treated with atypical antipsychotics because doing so could cause death.

Now: I am a woman and personally I don't believe any woman should weigh 107 lbs unless they are only 5' tall or less. I'm 5' and weight 125 without clothes and shoes on.

The better question might be to ask what was going on in your mother's head when she came to the conclusion she needed to lose all that weight. Her frame of mind could've already been shaky during the time she made that life decision.

Also: certain medications can cause symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar, that is, medications used to treat other medical conditions. My grandmother began hallucinating birds in front of her eyes when she was in her late eighties.

I would not rule out the extreme dieting and weight loss. It's up to you whether you agree with the psychologist's diagnosis of schizophrenia or want to get a second opinion.

At any rate you need to be honest with yourself about your mother's physical health and mental health at 84 years old and whether that could've contributed to her symptoms.

I certainly understand you don't want her burning through her life savings.

I would try to get to the bottom of why this has happened. Although like I said for an 84 year old woman who is possibly already not stable going on an extreme diet I doubt would be a good thing and could lead to such an outcome.

However: I would also check out any medications she's been on for other conditions and see if they could be the culprit.

Regards,

Christina

Whitedog

1/21/10 3:45pm

Mother indeed is 5' or a bit shorter, due to bone loss which is addressed with the once a year injection now. At 170 lbs she was bloated, low energy, stiff and did look fat for her height, unhealthy. Down to 120 was doctor recommended and acceptable, but she got a high from the weight loss and kept going; it got out of control but the past week she is eating well and normally. She's on no new meds, nothing for mental. I have yet to hear back from her internist, and doubt she will see another physician. She is sharply critical of me now where up to last week she saw me as her salvation. This time, she ordered business cards yesterday and will become an interior designer. Will earn $500/wk with a bakesale. I am calling an attorney today to see what steps I take to get control of her financials, but that will definitely alienate her. NEWS: yesterday she passed with flying colors the Dementia Test the psych gave her. We were amazed. But to her of course that means she is now a genius.

MichelleP

1/18/10 12:42am

I don't think so. Some people do bizarre things and don't have it.

I have schizophrenia and I hear voices and sometimes they correct me when I make a mistake and say people's names I am thinking of but can't remember. Anything can trigger weight loss, maybe she is more active. I lost a lot of weight, because I was doing more and eating less. I stopped being as active as I once was and put it almost all back on.

Schizophrenia is not the blame for everything. I know I have it because I can hear voices, but some people don't have it and just do weird things. Maybe she has another mental condition. One of the reasons I say this is because I don't think there is anyone who developed schizophrenia at the age 84.

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Dementia (that is something you can get at age 84)

Donna-1

1/20/10 10:32pm

Severe weight loss is not one of the signs of schizophrenia, but your mother may have dementia. There are several forms of dementia, including schizophrenia. Can you have her evaluated by a neurologist? Iinfection such as an bladder infection can cause bizarre symptoms in the elderly. You don't say she is on medications, but if she is, ask a professional to evaluate their compatibility and their advisability for elderly patients. Antipsychotics can cause a stroke in the elderly. When my dad had dementia, he refused to eat anything but chicken broth and lost from 140 to 115 lbs at 6' tall. The doctors called it "failure to thrive." Again, I think a neurologist is a good place to start. Let us know what you find out.

Whitedog

1/21/10 3:51pm

She lost the weight at doctor's rec, and just overdid it. She is eating normally the past week, but no improvement yet. Not on meds. She passed the dementia test with flying colors yesterday. Her apartment is beginning to look like a hoarder's place, she is very disorganized there, says it's due to her upcoming sale and sees nothing wrong with it even though she has been an extremely tidy person til this episode. It's like she sees the world through someone else's eyes. She is still sharp as a tack. So...been there already, but thanks.

Donna-1

1/21/10 6:04pm

Yes, it definitely sounds like something is wrong. And sometimes the doctors are in a guessing game as much as you are. My mother has a kidney problem and has been to specialists trying to find out what the cause and treatment is. They tried everything they could think of and you know what their final diagnosis was? Your kidneys are aging and just don't work as well as they used to. Ha.

doggreenies

1/24/10 1:15am

yes extreme dieting caused impaired thinking and strange thought process.

Q: does extreme dieting and weight loss trigger schizophrenia?

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