A PATIENT WITH MANIA AND PHOTOCONVULSIVE EPILEPSY

Objective: To describe a young patient who had a comorbidity of mania and photoconvulsive epilepsy. Clinical picture: This patient presented with a clinical picture of mania which proved difficult to treat unti l an EEG revealed the presence of photoconvulsive epilepsy. Treatment: Treatment with haloperidol and lithium was unsuccessful but the addit ion of carbamazepine produced a dramatic response. Haloperidol was sto pped and the patient maintained on lithium and carbamazepine. Outcome: A successful outcome was achieved with carbamazepine and the patient has remained well on this treatment for 2 years. Conclusions: The auth ors postulate that there may be an association between photoconvulsive epilepsy and mania, perhaps on a kindling basis. The literature perta ining to the psychiatric aspects of photoconvulsive epilepsy is review ed.