A veteran with acute mental changes years after combat

A 49-year-old man presented with a five-week history of worsening confusion , agitation, and bizarre behavior, According to his mother and sister, who live with him, he had inexplicably jumped out of bed one day sand complaine d of injuring his back. The pain apparently resolved within several days. T wo weeks later, again just after awakening, he had experienced a period of confusion lasting about 15 min. The latest episode occurred three days prev iously and included vivid hallucinations-at various times, he seemed to bel ieve that he was talking to his brother on the telephone, drinking a glass of water, emptying the refrigerator, jumping into a foxhole, and stomping o n rattlesnakes He was disoriented to time as well as environment.