Ray of hope for man who lost his voice

Kolkata: A youth from Howrah, who lost his voice following some psychological problems, has been given fresh lease of life by the Institute of Psychiatry.

Avijit Pal (32), a resident of Uluberia in Howrah, had been suffering from various psychological problems from the past 17 years. For the past 5-6 months, he partially lost his voice and his appetite. A month ago his family members took him to the Institute of Psychiatry.

Doctors in the hospital said that he had suffered a rare disease 17 years ago following which he developed various psychological issues. His family members told the doctors he used to lose temper. The patient was taken to Vellore for treatment but nothing happened. His family consulted many psychiatrists in the city after returning back to the city but nothing worked.

They finally brought him to the Institute of Psychiatry in the last month. The doctors found that pulse rate of the patient was normal but he was suffering from mild fever. His oxygen saturation was also normal. But he still had some serious psychological issues. He had become weak as he was averse to food intake. The doctors ascertained it to be a case of psychological emergency. They also came to know that he could not speak for almost 5-6 months.

According to a senior doctor of the hospital the patient had the symptoms of Lethal catatonia (LC). Lethal catatonia occurs in people with schizophrenia. It is a similar condition that might be confused with neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Neuroleptics might either improve or worsen the symptoms of lethal catatonia.

If there was a further delay in proper treatment, the patient's health condition would have turned worse. He had been under medical for over a month in the hospital and now the patient is showing significant signs of improvement.