J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 13:106-109, February 2001
© 2001 American Psychiatric Press, Inc.
Clinical and Research Reports |
A "Cure" for Chronic Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Secondary to a Right Frontal Lobe Infarct
A Case Report
Thomas W. Freeman, M.D. and
Tim Kimbrell, M.D.
Received January 24, 2000; revised May 22, 2000; accepted June 6, 2000. From the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Department of Psychiatry, and the Mental Health Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, Arkansas. Address correspondence to Dr. Freeman, North Little Rock PTSD Program, North Little Rock VAMC, Mail Code 116AP/NLR, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114. E-mail: freeman.thomas{at}little-rock.va.gov
ABSTRACT
A 48-year-old combat veteran sustained a right frontal cerebral infarct at the age of 45 years. The patient's family reports that prior to the infarct he had a preoccupation with memories of combat, as well as nightmares, avoidance of reminders, and multiple arousal symptoms. Since his recovery from the infarct, the patient and his family continue to relate significant arousal symptoms but deny any continued history of preoccupation with traumatic memories, reminder avoidance, or nightmares. The resolution of a limited number of symptoms in this patient following damage to the right frontal cortex suggests that some of the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder may be amenable to current biological interventions.
Key Words: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder • Frontal Lobe • Memory
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