Neuropsychiatry of Neuromyelitis Optica

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also called Devic's disease, is a central nervous system infl ammatory disease characterized by optic neuritis and longitudinally extensive acute transverse myelitis but also with brain involvement. Cognitive impairment is present in 54-57 % of patients. The main cognitive defi cits are in long-term memory, speed of information processing, attention, and executive functions. The neural basis of cognitive troubles in NMO seems to be the whole WM but particularly the corpus callosum and the superior longitudinal fascicles. Depression and fatigue are frequent behavioral symptoms of NMO. Guidelines for the treatment of neuropsychological symptoms of NMO are needed: when clinical trials will be conducted in NMO patients, a neuropsychological evaluation will be necessary. Keywords