J Clin Neurol.  2013 Apr;9(2):133-137. 10.3988/jcn.2013.9.2.133.

A Case of Frontotemporal Dementia with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Presenting with Pathological Gambling

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. etozel@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
  • 2Department of Neurology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Pathological gambling (PG), which is characterized by consistent, repetitive gambling and unsuccessful quitting attempts, is classified as an impulse control disorder. PG has also been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
CASE REPORT
A 53-year-old male visited the outpatient clinic due to excessive gambling and personality changes. Based on electrophysiological findings and neuropsychiatric assessment, he was diagnosed as frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
CONCLUSIONS
This case report underlines that PG can also be seen in patients with neurological disorders involving the orbitofrontal cortex.

Keyword

frontotemporal dementia; pathological gambling; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

MeSH Terms

Ambulatory Care Facilities
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Frontotemporal Dementia
Gambling
Humans
Male
Nervous System Diseases
Parkinson Disease

Figure

  • Fig. 1 T2-weighted horizontal and coronal MRI images of the patient revealed frontotemporal atrophy with several ischemic gliotic lesions in the posterior periventricular and subcortical white matter.


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