TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - An uncommon case of random fire-setting behavior associated with Todd paralysis: A case report
JO  - BMC psychiatry
A1  - Kanehisa, Masayuki
A1  - Morinaga, Katsuhiko
A1  - Kohno, Hisae
A1  - Maruyama, Yoshihiro
A1  - Ninomiya, Taiga
A1  - Ishitobi, Yoshinobu
A1  - Tanaka, Yoshihiro
A1  - Tsuru, Jusen
A1  - Hanada, Hiroaki
A1  - Yoshikawa, Tomoya
A1  - Akiyoshi, Jotaro
SP  - 132
EP  - 132
VL  - 12
IS  - 1
N2  - 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>
LA  - en
SN  - 1471-244X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-132
ID  - ref1
ER  -