Valproate-associated encephalopathy: a case report. Review of the literature

Valproate-associated encephalopathy is well known of to neurologists. It produces stupor or delirium, sometimes associated with disturbances in gait and motor coordination. EEG is characterized by a diffuse theta-delta background slowing, without seizure activity. A psychiatric case report in an epileptic subject, remitted from a melancholic episode with psychotic features, illustrates this risk and its possible etiologies. Some delirious states during treatment with valpromide, valproate's pro-drug, might share the same origin.