PROLONGED AKINETIC MUTISM DUE TO MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS

A 25-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis and an affective disorder probably secondary to MS presented with multiple neurological signs an d symptoms suggestive of active MS, most prominently akinetic mutism. Spinal fluid analysis and MRI supported a diagnosis of active MS. SPEC T and EEG were nonspecifically abnormal. After 6 weeks of severe akine tic 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 akin etic mutism.