@article{ref1,
title="An uncommon case of random fire-setting behavior associated with Todd paralysis: A case report",
journal="BMC psychiatry",
year="2012",
author="Kanehisa, Masayuki and Morinaga, Katsuhiko and Kohno, Hisae and Maruyama, Yoshihiro and Ninomiya, Taiga and Ishitobi, Yoshinobu and Tanaka, Yoshihiro and Tsuru, Jusen and Hanada, Hiroaki and Yoshikawa, Tomoya and Akiyoshi, Jotaro",
volume="12",
number="1",
pages="132-132",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The association between fire-setting behavior and psychiatric or medical disorders remains poorly understood. Although a link between fire-setting behavior and various organic brain disorders has been established, associations between fire setting and focal brain lesions have not yet been reported. Here, we describe the case of a 24-year-old first time arsonist who suffered Todd's paralysis prior to the onset of a bizarre and random fire-setting behavior. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of a 24-year-old man with a sudden onset of a bizarre and random fire-setting behavior is reported. The man, who had been arrested on felony arson charges, complained of difficulties concentrating and of recent memory disturbances with leg weakness. A video- EEG recording demonstrated a close relationship between the focal motor impairment and a clear-cut epileptic ictal discharge involving the bilateral motor cortical areas. The SPECT result was statistically analyzed by comparing with standard SPECT images obtained from our institute (easy Z-score imaging system; eZIS). eZIS revealed hypoperfusion in cingulate cortex, basal ganglia and hyperperfusion in frontal cortex,. A neuropsychological test battery revealed lower than normal scores for executive function, attention, and memory, consistent with frontal lobe dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The fire-setting behavior and Todd's paralysis, together with an unremarkable performance on tests measuring executive function fifteen months prior, suggested a causal relationship between this organic brain lesion and the fire-setting behavior. The case describes a rare and as yet unreported association between random, impulse-driven fire-setting behavior and damage to the brain and suggests a disconnection of frontal lobe structures as a possible pathogenic mechanism.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-244X",
doi="10.1186/1471-244X-12-132",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-132"
}