Symptomatic complex partial status epilepticus manifesting as utilization behavior of a mobile phone

Epilepsy Behav. 2009 Mar;14(3):553-5. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2008.12.002. Epub 2009 Jan 4.

Abstract

Utilization behavior (UB) consists of reaching out and using objects in the environment in an automatic manner and out of context. This behavior has been correlated to frontal lobe dysfunction, especially of the right hemisphere. We describe a 60-year-old woman, affected by a glioblastoma located in the right frontal region, who presented with intermittent UB of the mobile phone as the main clinical manifestation of partial complex status epilepticus. Video/EEG studies showed a striking correlation between mobile phone utilization and ictal epileptic activity. Clinical and EEG findings were markedly reduced after the introduction of antiepileptic drugs. This case study suggests that UB may be added to the symptoms described for partial seizures originating from frontal areas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Benzodiazepines / therapeutic use
  • Brain Neoplasms / complications
  • Brain Neoplasms / psychology
  • Cell Phone*
  • Clobazam
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / psychology
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Glioblastoma / complications
  • Glioblastoma / psychology
  • Humans
  • Levetiracetam
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Piracetam / analogs & derivatives
  • Piracetam / therapeutic use
  • Status Epilepticus / etiology
  • Status Epilepticus / psychology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Clobazam
  • Levetiracetam
  • Piracetam