title: Akinetic mutism: pharmacologic probe of the dopaminergic mesencephalofrontal activating system.
abstract: Four children who exhibited akinetic mutism during the course of their neurologic diseases were treated with bromocriptine. Reversal of the akinetic mute states was evident in all patients. Pathways of the dopaminergic neurons are reviewed and a clinically useful mechanism which causes akinetic mutism is postulated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Echiverri
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Tatum
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Merens
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Coker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000405:Akinetic Mutism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001971:Bromocriptine; D004298:Dopamine