Neuropsychology of thallium poisoning
- aDepartment of Clinical Neuropsychology, Wolfson Rehabilitation Centre, London and Department of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, bDepartment of Neuropsychiatry, St George’s Hospital, London, UK, cDepartment of Neurology, Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, London, UK
- Professor T M McMillan, Department of Clinical, Neuropsychology, Wolfson Rehabilitation Centre and Atkinson Morley’s Hospital, St George’s Healthcare Trust, Copse Hill, Wimbledon London SW20 ONE.
- Received 16 September 1996
- Revised 26 March 1997
- Accepted 8 April 1997
Abstract
Cases of thallium poisoning are rare and neuropsychological assessment has only been reported in detail in one other case. In the case reported here, neuropsychological assessments were carried out three, 12, and 54 months after diagnosis of thallium poisoning in a man who had acutely shown a number of neurological signs including confusion and disorientation and generalised slowing of EEG which was more prominent on the left. Evidence suggested that he had been exposed to thallium over a period of weeks. Neuropsychological assessment indicated an unexpected weakness in verbal abilities which persisted. This finding is consistent with the only other published case report which details neuropsychological effects after a single large dose of thallium and which also found a lateralised impairment.
