Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease endemic in several developing countries where people consume raw or insufficiently cooked pork. The authors present a clinical picture of an organic psychosis in a 24 year old female with CNS cysticercosis. The neuroradiologic follow-up of this patient pre and post treatment with praziquantel is presented. The implications of this case with regard to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and schizophrenia-like psychoses is discussed.
References
1.
BiaFJ, BarryM.Parasitic infections of the central nervous system. Neurol Clin1986; 4(1): 182–187.
PascoeM, SainesN, LyallI, Cerebral cycticercosis: a case report with particular reference to recent advances in diagnosis and treatment. Aust N Z J Med1987; 17: 55–57.
4.
SignoreRJ, LahmeyerHW. Acute psychosis in a patient with cerebral cysticercosis. Psychosomatics1988; 29(1): 106–108.
5.
NormanRM, KapadiaC.Cerebral cysticercosis: treatment with praziquantel. Pediatrics1986; 78(2): 291–294.
6.
RamosOM, Stiebel-ChinG, AirmanN, Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis by magnetic resonance imaging. Pediatr Infect Dis J1986; 5(4): 470–473.
7.
McKennaPJ, KaneJM, ParrishK.Psychotic syndromes in epilepsy. Am J Psychiatry1985; 142: 895–904.
8.
NeppeVM, TuckerGJ. Modem perspectives on epilepsy in relation to psychiatry: behavioral disturbances of epilepsy. Hosp Community Psychiatry1988; 39(4): 389–396.
9.
SpiersPA, SchomerDL, BlumeHW, Temporolimbic epilepsy and behavior. In: MesulamM-M, ed. Principles of behavioral neurology.Philadelphia PA: FA. Davis Company, 1985: 289–326.
10.
DamM, DamAM. Is there an epileptic personality? In: TrimbleMR, BolwigTG, eds. Aspects of epilepsy and psychiatry.New York: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 1986: 9–18.
11.
TrimbleMR. Hypergraphia. In: TrimbleMR, BolwigTG, eds. Aspects of epilepsy and Psychiatry.New York: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 1986: 75–87.
12.
AndreasenNC. Is schizophrenia a temporolimbic disease ? In: AndreasenNC, ed. Can schizophrenia be localized in the brain? Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press, Inc.,1986: 39–52.
13.
AndreasenNC, FlaumM, SwayzeVW, Positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia: a critical reappraisal. Arch Gen Psychiatry1990; 47: 615–621.
14.
SuddathRL, ChristisonGW, TorreyEF, Anatomical abnormalities in the brains of monozygotic twins discordant for schizophrenia. N Engl J Med1990; 322(12): 789–794.
15.
JoliesPR, ChapmanPR, AlaviA.PET, CT, and MRI in the evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders: current applications. J Nucl Med1989; 30: 1589–1606.
