Neuropsychiatric sequelae of Nipah virus encephalitis

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2004 Fall;16(4):500-4. doi: 10.1176/jnp.16.4.500.

Abstract

The authors followed nine patients with Nipah virus encephalitis over the course of 24 months. Eight of the nine developed psychiatric features assigned to the encephalitis. Three patients developed major depressive disorder immediately after recovering from the encephalitis, and two developed depression approximately 1 year after the outbreak. Two patients developed personality changes, and two suffered chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuropsychological testing was accomplished in eight of the nine patients. Deficits in attention, verbal, and/or visual memory were substantial in seven of the eight patients tested. Verbal memory was more impaired than visual memory in these patients. Comparison between psychiatric and cognitive impairment and total number of brain lesions showed no discernible trends.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / etiology
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / etiology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Employment
  • Encephalitis, Viral / epidemiology
  • Encephalitis, Viral / pathology*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / psychology*
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / etiology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Nipah Virus*
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / pathology*
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / psychology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Zoonoses