ARTICLE
Neuropsychological characteristic of post-traumatic Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
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Arch Psych Psych 2011;13(4):59-65
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ABSTRACT
Aim. Kluver-Bucy syndrome was described in the 50' s of the 20th century as a group of neuropsychological symptoms such as changes in behaviour and emotions, hypersexuality (homo-, hetero-, autosexuality), changes in dietary habits (hyperorality), visual agnosia, oral tendency, hypermetamorphosis, which can develop in human beings, after bilateral damage or dysfunction of the medial part of temporal lobes. The main course of Kluver-Bucy syndrome may be central nervous system infection, especially herpetic, Pick disease, temporal epilepsy, paraneoplastic encephalopathy or bilateral brain injury. The disease is very rare in children and its occurrence in adolescents was described only in few cases. The intensity and the mode of its manifestation depend on many different factors. Material and methods. The first comparative presentation of two clinical cases of children at the same age (16 years), following head injury (the same mechanism of trauma), with the description of computed tomography scans. Results. The diagnosis of the syndrome does not require all the symptoms to be manifested simultaneously. Both patients were treated with carbamazepine. Regression of neuropsychological symptoms was different in both children despite similar brain damage. Conclusions. Fully symptomatic Kluver-Bucy syndrome is very rare. Psychological status in Kluver-Bucy syndrome depends not only on the extent of the lesion, but also on emotional and intellectual development before the injury and social stimulation after brain damage.