Organic dissociative syndrome associated with antimigraine pharmacotherapy.

Author(s): Good MI

Affiliation(s): Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston.

Publication date & source: 1991-10, Can J Psychiatry., 36(8):597-9.

Publication type: Case Reports

This report describes an acute organic brain syndrome with a fugue-like state in association with antimigraine pharmacotherapy. The differential diagnosis of: 1. possible psychotoxic effects of the combination of propranolol, imipramine, and butalbital; 2. confusional migraine with amnesia; and 3. psychogenic dissociation is considered. Although organically induced dissociative states are of clinical, neuropsychological and medico-legal significance, the DSM-III and DSM-III-R have specific categories only for dissociative conditions that are strictly psychogenic in origin.