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Frontal impairment and confabulation after herpes simplex encephalitis: A case report
Nicoletta Del Grosso Destreri1, Elisabetta Farina, Elena Calabrese
1Neurorehabilitation Unit, I.R.C.C.S. S. Maria Nascente, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, University of Milan, Via Capecelatro No. 66, 20148 Milan, Italy.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|March 12, 2002
Summary
This study details a rehabilitation program for a patient with severe cognitive deficits after herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). The tailored approach successfully restored daily living independence through targeted cognitive and memory strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) can lead to severe and persistent neuropsychological deficits.
- The case presents a 53-year-old woman with confabulation, dysexecutive syndrome, memory impairment, and secondary narcolepsy post-HSE.
Observation:
- A comprehensive neuropsychological examination identified specific cognitive deficits.
- The patient exhibited significant challenges with vigilance, attention, memory, and executive functions.
Findings:
- Vigilance and attention were improved using timed rest periods and progressively challenging attentional tasks.
- External aids and cueing strategies effectively managed temporal disorientation, confabulation, inertia, and memory deficits.
- Rehabilitation successfully targeted planning, categorization, and topographic orientation skills.
Implications:
- This case highlights the efficacy of individualized cognitive rehabilitation for post-HSE sequelae.
- The findings suggest that a combination of targeted cognitive strategies and external aids can restore functional independence.
- Family support and ongoing informal training are crucial components of successful long-term recovery.