[Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Presenting Initially as Schizophrenic Psychosis in a 19-Year Old Man]

We report the rare case of a 19-year old man, first diagnosed with schizophrenia but finally shown to have subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Initial symptoms were hallucinations and negative symptoms until the onset of a seizure. Changes in the CSF, MRI, EEG and increasing neurological symptoms led to the correct diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The EEG results were of particular importance as they already showed the characteristic changes, even while the patient still only presented with psychotic symptoms. This case report demonstrates the importance of ongoing neurological examinations in patients with psychiatric disorders. In the literature, there are only three case reports about children (8, 9 and 10 year old) as well as one of a 21-year old women with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting with psychosis.