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A patient with mania and photoconvulsive epilepsy
M G Roxanas1, A J Corbett, W G Reid
1Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.
Objective:
To describe a young patient who had a comorbidity of mania and photoconvulsive epilepsy.
Clinical Picture:
This patient presented with a clinical picture of mania which proved difficult to treat until an EEG revealed the presence of photoconvulsive epilepsy.
Treatment:
Treatment with haloperidol and lithium was unsuccessful but the addition of carbamazepine produced a dramatic response. Haloperidol was stopped and the patient maintained on lithium and carbamazepine.
Outcome:
A successful outcome was achieved with carbamazepine and the patient has remained well on this treatment for 2 years.
Conclusions:
The authors postulate that there may be an association between photoconvulsive epilepsy and mania, perhaps on a kindling basis. The literature pertaining to the psychiatric aspects of photoconvulsive epilepsy is reviewed.