Abstract
It is sometimes difficult to establish the etiological diagnosis of an acute mental confusional state, especially in the elderly, where a variety of factors can alter the already per se unstable psycho-physical balance. To identify small cerebral lesions, a neuropsychological examination can be more useful than the sophisticated instrumental tests, since it is able to show specific cerebral functional alterations concomitant with confusional state. Two clinical cases are discussed in the present work, in which the neuropsychological evaluation was able both to localize the presence of an encephalic focal lesion, and to start a useful, targeted, re-educational treatment. In the first clinical case, a patient showed a sudden mental confusional state accompanied by the absence of any altered laboratory and instrumental findings, but manifesting itself in neglecting the left half of the space, representing an evidence of a focal cerebral lesion. This was confirmed by a neuropsychological analysis. A re-educational treatment permitted an improvement in symptomatology. In the second clinical case, a point-form lacunar infarct localized to the right corona radiata was present. This lesion re sulted in, besides space-time disorientation, a serious alteration of attention dama all other mental performances. Specific treatment resulted in a significant improvement of the various tasks-resolving performances, carried out at the end of the treatment.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call