A case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as depression

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is rare in adult patients. Clinical presentation in intial phases of SSPE may be non-specific leading to diagnostic delay. We present a 24-year-old patient with depressive syndrome of five months' duration prior to the onset of typical features of SSPE, which is a rare presentation. This patient had responded partially to Sertraline, for a brief period, before he was diagnosed to have SSPE. This case illustrates affective symptoms can be the presenting features of SSPE in adults.