Citation

Das A, Elwadhi D, Gupta M. Indian J. Psychol. Med. 2017; 39(2): 205-208.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Maulana Azad Medical College, GB Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, New Delhi, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Indian Psychiatric Society, South Zone, Publisher Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/0253-7176.203112

PMID

28515563

PMCID

PMC5385755

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to changes in eating behavior patterns. This report describes the case of a patient with alcohol dependence presenting with behavioral changes and eating disorder following frontal lobe trauma. A 42-year-old male, premorbidly well-adjusted presented with alcohol use in dependent pattern for years. He sustained a subdural hematoma in the frontal lobe following a road traffic accident 10 years back. Post-TBI, the patient, started having low frustration tolerance, aggressive outbursts, disinhibition, difficulty in persisting with tasks, apathy, amotivation, and craving for food with inability to control intake on the sight of food. On testing, a deficit in frontal lobe functions was seen. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed large areas of gliosis and encephalomalacia involving both frontal lobes with parenchymal loss. Eating disorders have been reported after TBI. This case report underscores a major role of frontal-subcortical circuits in regulation of eating habits.

Language: en

Keywords

Behaviors; eating disorder; frontal-subcortical circuits; traumatic brain injury