J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1995; 7:90-92
Copyright © 1995 by American Neuropsychiatric Association
Prolonged akinetic mutism due to multiple sclerosis
TF Scott, D Lang, RM Girgis and T Price
Division of Neurology, Medical College of Pennsylvania, Allegheny General Hospital Campus, Pittsburgh, USA.
A 25-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis and an affective disorder
probably secondary to MS presented with multiple neurological signs and
symptoms suggestive of active MS, most prominently akinetic mutism. Spinal
fluid analysis and MRI supported a diagnosis of active MS. SPECT and EEG
were nonspecifically abnormal. After 6 weeks of severe akinetic mutism
refractory to one ECT treatment and trials of steroids and stimulants, the
patient recovered spontaneously over a 2-month period. An acute brainstem
lesion seen on MRI may explain this patient's akinetic mutism.
