Localized Right Cerebral Hemisphere Dysfunction, Bereavement and Secondary Mania.

Abstract

The authors report on a fully right-handed man without prior psychiatric history who developed mania secondary to vascular lesion in the right hemisphere immediately after bereavement of his wife. From literature consideration, it is suggested that bereavement is an effective trigger of mania and that right hemisphere dysfunction provides vulnerability for this effect. This case raises important question for both organic and psychological theories of causation of bipolar affective illness.