Forced thinking and behavior can be true epileptic phenomena. Forced thinking, characterized by abrupt intrusion of thoughts, could be produced by an epileptic discharge in frontal or temporal lobes Epileptic forced thinking appears distinct from obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges. A male patient, teacher of optic pathophysiology, from the age of 40 showed short (2-3 minutes) episodes, characterized by a compulsive urge to speak technically as he would in his job. At the age of 43 he showed two nocturnal generalized seizures. An EEG was performed and it showed intercritical and critical anomalies on the left anterior regions. A magnetic resonance (MR) showed the presence of a neuronal migration disorder (sub-ependimal cotrical nodular heterotopia). Soon after, a therapy with carbamazepine 800 mg/die was started and all types of paroxystical manifestations disappeared. This case is interesting and intriguing because of the overlapping of epilepsy, forced behavior and neuronal migration disorders. Considering the anatomic systems involved in epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorder, we will discuss the differences and the common features of both disturbances.
"Forced Behavior" as epileptic seizure: Description of a patient with neuronal migration disorder
De Simone R.;Koch G.;
2001
Abstract
Forced thinking and behavior can be true epileptic phenomena. Forced thinking, characterized by abrupt intrusion of thoughts, could be produced by an epileptic discharge in frontal or temporal lobes Epileptic forced thinking appears distinct from obsessive thoughts and compulsive urges. A male patient, teacher of optic pathophysiology, from the age of 40 showed short (2-3 minutes) episodes, characterized by a compulsive urge to speak technically as he would in his job. At the age of 43 he showed two nocturnal generalized seizures. An EEG was performed and it showed intercritical and critical anomalies on the left anterior regions. A magnetic resonance (MR) showed the presence of a neuronal migration disorder (sub-ependimal cotrical nodular heterotopia). Soon after, a therapy with carbamazepine 800 mg/die was started and all types of paroxystical manifestations disappeared. This case is interesting and intriguing because of the overlapping of epilepsy, forced behavior and neuronal migration disorders. Considering the anatomic systems involved in epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorder, we will discuss the differences and the common features of both disturbances.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
