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Acute mutism: a useful lesson
  1. Melissa Maguire1,
  2. Osheik Seidi1,
  3. Mark Baker1,
  4. Arun Gupta2,
  5. Cyrus Muwanga3
  1. 1Department of Neurology, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK
  2. 2Department of Accident and Emergency, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, UK
  3. 3Department of Adult Psychiatry, Cherry Knowles Hospital, Sunderland, UK
  1. Correspondence toDr Melissa Maguire, Speciality Registrar in Neurology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK; maguirem{at}doctors.org.uk

Abstract

Broca's aphasia may manifest as mutism in some patients. Mutism may be misinterpreted as part of a depressive illness in patients with a psychiatric history. We report on a patient presenting with acute mutism who had a history of amphetamine and cannabis abuse and was later found to have sustained an infarct of the dorsolateral frontal cortex. Recognition of this mode of presentation will aid early diagnosis and treatment.

  • Amphetamine
  • aphasia, cannabis
  • drug abuse
  • mental health
  • mutism
  • neurology
  • stroke

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Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Patient consent Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

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