Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-swr86 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T10:06:03.234Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Coprophagia in association with depression and hypothyroidism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

TS Ananthanarayanan
Affiliation:
Bedford Hospital, Bedford, MK42 9DJ, England

Abstract

Coprophagia is a disturbing behaviour sometimes associated with mental disorder in humans which is poorly described and understood. We describe a case of hypothyroidism and depressive psychosis, associated with coprophagia which resolved with treatment. Further examination of this phenomenon and its relationship with underlying endocrine and psychotic disorder is required.

Type
Case Report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Soave, O, Brand, CD. Coprophagy in animals – a review. Cornell Vet 1991; 81: 357–64.Google Scholar
2.Parry-Jones, B, Parry-Jones, WLL. Pica: symptom or eating disorder? A historical assessment. B J Psychiatry 1992; 160: 341–54.Google Scholar
3.Bleuler, E. ‘Dementia praecox oder die Gruppe der Schizophrenien’. In: Aschaffenburgs Handbuch der Psychiatrie. (Deputicke, Leipzig 1911).Google Scholar
Translated by Zinkin, Joseph. New York: International University Press, 1950.Google Scholar
4.Fish, FJ. Clinical pathology (Revised by M. Hamilton). Bristol: Wright, 1974.Google Scholar
5.Gelder, M, Gath, D, Mayou, R. Problems of sexuality and gender. In: Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry, 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.Google Scholar
6.Meth, JM. Exotic psychiatric syndromes. In: Arieti, American Textbook of Psychiatry. New York: Basic Books, 1974: 728.Google Scholar
7.Reus, V. Behavioural disturbances associated with endocrine disorders. Ann Rev Med 1986; 37: 205–14.Google Scholar
8.Hollister, LE, Davis, KL, Berger, PA. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone and psychiatric disorders. In: Neuroregulators and psychiatric disorders. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977: 28.Google Scholar
9.Leigh, H, Kramer, SI. The psychiatric manifestations of endocrine disease. Adv Intern Med 1984; 29: 413–45.Google Scholar
10.Salvidar, JLB, Van Itallie, TB. Semi-starvation, an over-view of an old problem. Bull New York Acad Med 1979; 55: 774–97.Google Scholar
11.Zhang, D. Hendricks, DG, Mahoney, AW. Effect of coprophagy on the bioavailability of iron from plant foods fed to anaemic rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 1992; 42: 97108.Google Scholar
12.Bugle, C and Rubin, HB. Effects of a nutritional supplement on coprophagia – a study of three cases. Res Dev Disabil 1993; 14: 445–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Read, DH, Harrington, DD. Experimentally induced thiamine deficiency in beagle dogs; clinical observations. Amer J Vet Record 1981; 42: 981–4.Google Scholar
14.Friedin, BB, Johnson, HK. Treatment of a retarded child's faeces smearing and coprophagic behaviour. J Mental Deficiency Res 1979; 23: 5561.Google Scholar
15.Ghaziuddin, N, McDonald, C. A clinical study of adult coprophagics. Br J Psychiatry 1985; 147: 312–3.Google Scholar
16.Chaturvedi, SK. Coprophagia in a schizophrenic patient – case report. Psychopathology 1988; 21: 31–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Pitts, FN, Guze, SB. Treatment of hypothyroid depression with ECT. Am J Psychiatry 1966; 118: 142–7.Google Scholar