Resolution of low voltage electrical injury induced psychosis with olanzapine

The number of electrical injuries are rising in proportion to the increased use of electricity in both domestic and industrial sectors. There are multiple ways in which electricity can cause tissue damage, which can be due to direct effects, electroporation and thermal effects. However, these mechanisms fail to explain the enigmatous occurrences of diffuse and delayed neurological and psychological manifestations, especially those remote to the theoretical current pathway and in absence of any gross neurological abnormalities. Immediate neuropsychological sequelae have been well reported in the literature in the form of transient anxiety, emotional instability and memory disturbances. Among psychiatric manifestations, neurotic disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, conversion and adjustment disorders have been appreciated many a times as a frequent accompaniment of these injuries. Occasional reports of occurrence of mania have also been recorded.

This study reports a case of schizophrenia like illness following a low voltage electrical injury. A discussion regarding the ways in which electrical injury and schizophrenia like illness could be related has been put forth. A brief review of the literature regarding the occurrence of psychiatric disorders in such injuries is also presented.