Citation

Wiener J, Moran MT, Haut MW. Neurodegener. Dis. Manag. 2015; 5(4): 289-292.

Affiliation

Department of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry, West Virginia University, WV 26505-2854, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Future Medicine)

DOI

10.2217/nmt.15.24

PMID

26295722

Abstract

We present the clinical history and the cognitive and behavioral presentations of a male patient with suspected progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) who fatally shot himself in the head. We believe his act of suicide was the consequence of impulsivity, rather than primary depression or mood disturbance. In cases of suspected PSP and other atypical parkinsonisms, health professionals must be aware of neurobehavioral risk factors for suicide attempts and completions to promote patient safety; however, the literature on this topic is sparse. Our case highlights the potentially lethal consequences of impulsivity and other neuropsychiatric symptoms in PSP and related syndromes.

Language: en