Erotomania associated with temporal lobe abnormalities following radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The aetiology of primary erotomania is usually discussed in terms of psychological disturbance in the patient. A case associated with demonstrable left temporal lobe abnormalities is described.


METHODS
An elderly female patient presented with the delusion of being loved by a physician who had treated her previously. She had received radiotherapy to her left periorbital area in childhood. Structural and functional neuroimaging revealed medial temporal lobe damage.


RESULTS
She was treated with haloperidol with moderate improvement in her distress.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the contribution of both cerebral injury and psychosocial factors in the eventual development of this unusual psychiatric syndrome.
Wijeratne
C
C
Department of Aged Care, St George Hospital, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia.
Hickie
I
I
Schwartz
R
R
D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D003702:Delusions / Q000209:etiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D004882:Erotica; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000528:radiation effects*