Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Sporadic encephalitis lethargica: a case treated successfully with ECT

K B Dekleva1, M M Husain

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, USA.

The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

A patient recovered fully from encephalitis lethargica symptoms, including seizures and catatonia, after receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). This case highlights ECT as a potential treatment for severe neurological and autonomic dysfunction associated with this rare condition.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Spectroscopic interaction of a coumarin derivative with bovine serum albumin.

Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals·2012
Same author

Effector T cells immune reactivity among patients with acute hepatitis E.

Journal of viral hepatitis·2011
Same author

Indicators of pretreatment suicidal ideation in adults with major depressive disorder.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2009
Same author

Electroconvulsive therapy is equally effective in unipolar and bipolar depression.

Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica·2009
Same author

Painful physical symptoms and treatment outcome in major depressive disorder: a STAR*D (Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression) report.

Psychological medicine·2009
Same author

Residual symptoms after remission of major depressive disorder with citalopram and risk of relapse: a STAR*D report.

Psychological medicine·2009

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Encephalitis lethargica is a rare neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain.
  • It presents with a diverse range of symptoms including movement abnormalities, cognitive deficits, and autonomic dysfunction.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with a constellation of severe symptoms: seizures, opisthotonos (severe muscle stiffness), catatonia (a state of near-unresponsiveness), and autonomic dysfunction (affecting involuntary bodily functions).
  • These clinical features were consistent with sporadic encephalitis lethargica.

Findings:

  • The patient underwent a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
  • Following ECT, the patient experienced a complete resolution of all presenting symptoms.

Related Experiment Videos

Implications:

  • This case suggests that electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an effective treatment for severe, refractory cases of sporadic encephalitis lethargica.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ECT's efficacy in treating encephalitis lethargica and similar conditions.