Catatonia as presenting clinical feature of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis

Abstract

Catatonia is not a usual clinical presentation of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), especially in the initial stages of illness. However, there is only one reported case of SSPE presenting as catatonia among children. In this report, however, there were SSPE-specific changes on EEG and the catatonia failed to respond to lorazepam. We describe a case of SSPE in a child presenting as catatonia that presented with clinical features of catatonia and did not have typical EEG findings when assessed at first contact. He responded to lorazepam and EEG changes emerged during the course of follow-up.

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Presenting with Isolated Positive Psychotic and Catatonic Symptoms

“…[ 4 ] Till date, only three cases have been reported in the literature in which patients with SSPE presented with catatonic symptoms in the initial course of the illness. [ 1 ] Similarly, psychosis has only been reported in four children with SSPE till date in authors’ knowledge. [ 2 5 ]…”

“…[2,3] There are cases reported in the literature where SSPE presented with isolated psychiatric complaints, which lead to misdiagnosis. [1] Such presentations include psychosis, mania, and catatonia. Catatonia is relatively rare, especially during the early stages of the illness.…”

“…[4] Till date, only three cases have been reported in the literature in which patients with SSPE presented with catatonic symptoms in the initial course of the illness. [1] Similarly, psychosis has only been reported in four children with SSPE till date in authors' knowledge. [2,5] The absence of typical symptoms of SSPE with the presence of typical symptoms suggestive of schizophrenia (paranoid delusion, visual hallucinations, and possible auditory hallucination) led to initial misdiagnosis of our case as possible schizophrenia.…”

“…Till date, only a few cases have been reported in which psychosis or catatonia was a presenting complaint. [ 1 ] We report an unusual case of an adolescent with SSPE who presented with prominent positive psychotic and catatonic symptoms in the initial course of illness which misdiagnosed as a case of schizophrenia.…”

A Case of Sub-Acute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Presenting With Nonspecific Psychiatric Symptoms

“…Bizim olgumuzda ise başlangıç silik belirtilerle olmakla birlikte seyirde bildirilen olgulara benzer şekilde nörolojik bulgularda ilerleme ve klinik kötüleşme izlenmiştir. Erişkin yaş-ta başlayan olgularda ise atipik belirtiler olarak adlandırılan görme bozukluğu ve katatoni gibi belirtiler başlangıçta daha sık görülmektedir (Dayal ve Balhara 2014). Olgudaki hastalık başlangıç belirtileri ise içe kapanma ve okulda sosyal iletişim-de azalma idi.…”