Late-onset startle syndrome and obsessive compulsive disorder

Article type: Other

Authors: Gonzalez, Alejandro | Philpot, Michael P.

Affiliations: Maudsley Hospital, London, UK

Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Michael Philpot, Old Age Psychiatry Directorate, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AZ, UK. Tel.: +44 171 919 2193; Fax: +44 171 919 2171.

Abstract: A case of late onset sporadic startle syndrome in a patient with a right posterior fossa brain tumour is reported. The exaggerated startle response did not respond to treatment with clonazepam. In addition to anxiety and depression, the patient developed obsessive- compulsive symptoms which responded to behavioural therapy. The possible mechanisms for this unique pattern of symptoms are discussed.

Keywords: Startle, obsessive-compulsive, meningioma, aged

Journal: Behavioural Neurology, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 113-116, 1998