A case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as depression

Authors: Datta, Soumitra Shankar¹; Jacob, Rajesh¹; Kumar, Sudhir²; Jeyabalan, Susan¹

Source: Acta Neuropsychiatrica, Volume 18, Number 1, February 2006 , pp. 55-57(3)

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Abstract:

Datta SS, Jacob R, Kumar S, Jeyabalan S. A case of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis presenting as depression. Summary:

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is rare in adult patients. Clinical presentation in intial phases of SSPE may be non-specific leading to diagnostic delay. We present a 24-year-old patient with depressive syndrome of five months' duration prior to the onset of typical features of SSPE, which is a rare presentation. This patient had responded partially to Sertraline, for a brief period, before he was diagnosed to have SSPE. This case illustrates affective symptoms can be the presenting features of SSPE in adults.

Keywords: adult-onset; depression; electroencephalography; psychiatric symptoms; Sertraline; subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0924-2708.2006.00117.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychiatry, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, Tamil Nadu, India; and 2: Department of Neurology, Christian Medical College, Vellore 632002, Tamil Nadu, India

Publication date: 2006-02-01