Acute stress secondary to kidnapping complicated by epilepsy: Case report from the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital of the Brothers of Charity in Goma, North Kivu, DR Congo

Abstract

Introduction : Stress is defined as a behavioral and physiological response to an uncontrollable and/or unpredictable event or situation.

This is a case report of an 11-year-old male subject received, examined and followed up at the Brothers of Charity Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (CHNP) in Goma since May 2022 in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. After one month of abduction, this patient was released and presented on admission with cognitive impairment, dysgraphia, retrograde amnesia and convulsions without disturbance of inflammatory and electrolyte status. This led to the conclusion of post-traumatic epilepsy, and motivated his initiation of anticonvulsant therapy combined with psychotherapy. The patient was followed up for 11 months, with resolution of symptoms and stabilization of clinical condition.

Conclusion : Cases of epilepsy occurring in the context of acute stress are rare; however, they have been reported by other authors, but not in the context of kidnapping as in our case.