Key result
Lithium and quetiapine cut mania scores ~75% in a bipolar patient with dextrocardia.
Why the study?
Bipolar affective disorder increases cardiovascular morbidity, and co-occurring congenital cardiac anomalies such as dextrocardia add complexity to psychiatric and psychotropic management.
Case Report (n=1)
This case demonstrates that unrecognized congenital cardiac anomalies like dextrocardia can cause ECG artefacts mimicking psychotropic cardiotoxicity, emphasizing the need for careful cardiovascular evaluation in psychiatric patients.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Dextrocardia complicates BPAD management; leaves open tailored psychotropic strategies in congenital heart disease.
Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) is strongly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity due to autonomic dysregulation, inflammatory activation, metabolic effects, and psychotropic-induced cardiac changes. Congenital cardiac anomalies such as dextrocardia add an additional layer of complexity to psychiatric management. We describe an 18-year-old female who presented with a manic episode and was simultaneously diagnosed with dextrocardia. The case highlights diagnostic challenges, cardiovascular considerations during psychotropic treatment, and the importance of multidisciplinary care. Literature shows that individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) have significantly higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and require systematic screening and integrated care approaches. Early recognition and tailored management can improve psychiatric and cardiac outcomes.
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Kumar et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Bipolar affective disorder and dextrocardia (n=1). Lithium carbonate and quetiapine was evaluated on Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score. Treatment with lithium and quetiapine led to marked clinical improvement in a patient with bipolar mania and dextrocardia, reducing her Young Mania Rating Scale score from 68 to 17.
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