Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
04:23
A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
Published on: April 28, 2019
7.2K
VIRAL ENCEPHALITIS PRESENTING AS CATATONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA (A Case Report)
S Chaudhury1, P K Chakraborty2, P Bharadwaj3
1Classified Specialist (Psychiatry), 151 Base Hospital, C/o 99 APO, PUNE - 411 040.
Medical Journal, Armed Forces India
|August 4, 2017
Summary
This report details a rare case of viral encephalitis mimicking catatonic schizophrenia in an 18-year-old recruit. The findings highlight the importance of considering infectious causes for psychiatric presentations.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain tissue caused by viral infections.
- Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric condition characterized by motor immobility and behavioral abnormalities.
- Distinguishing between infectious encephalitis and primary psychiatric disorders can be challenging.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old military recruit presented with symptoms suggestive of catatonic schizophrenia.
- The patient's clinical presentation included significant psychomotor disturbances.
- Initial assessments did not immediately point towards an infectious etiology.
Findings:
- The recruit was diagnosed with viral encephalitis.
- The viral infection was the underlying cause of the catatonic symptoms.
- This case underscores the potential for viral encephalitis to manifest with psychiatric symptoms.
Implications:
- Early recognition of viral encephalitis is crucial, even with atypical presentations like catatonia.
- Neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are vital for diagnosing encephalitis.
- This case emphasizes the need for a comprehensive differential diagnosis in patients with acute-onset psychiatric symptoms.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Positive Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Hallucinations and Delusions
802
Schizophrenia is a complex mental health disorder that can manifest with various positive symptoms, including thought, movement, and behavior disorders. These symptoms significantly disrupt cognitive and motor functions, leading to profound effects on an individual's ability to engage with the world.
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
Thought Disorders
Disorganized and unusual thought processes mark thought disorders in schizophrenia. One key feature is disorganized speech, where an individual's conversation includes...
802
01:17Schizophrenia
1.3K
Schizophrenia, a term introduced by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1911, describes a severe psychological disorder marked by profound disruptions in attention, thought processes, language, emotion, and interpersonal relationships. The core feature of schizophrenia is psychosis — a state characterized by a fundamental detachment from reality. This disconnection manifests through distorted logic, impaired perception, and atypical behavior, severely affecting the lives of those...
1.3K
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
2.2K
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
2.2K
01:13Seizures: Classification
1.8K
Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
1.8K
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
1.0K
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...
1.0K
01:29Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
799
Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
799