Severe Neuropsychiatric Reaction in a Deployed Military Member after Prophylactic Mefloquine

Abstract

Recent studies of military personnel who have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have reported a number of combat-related psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and traumatic brain injury. This case report involves a 27- year-old male active-duty US military service member who developed severe depression, psychotic hallucinations, and neuropsychological sequelae following the prophylactic use of the antimalarial medication mefloquine hydrochloride. The patient had a recent history of depression and was taking antidepressant medications at the time of his deployment to the Middle East. Psychiatrists and other health care providers should be aware of the possible neuropsychiatric side effects of mefloquine in deployed military personnel and should consider the use of other medications for malaria prophylaxis in those individuals who may be at increased risk for side effects.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2011
Accession Number
ADA549347

Entities

People

  • Alan L. Peterson
  • Libby S. Schindler
  • Robert A. Seegmiller

Organizations

  • University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Brain Injuries
  • Depression
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Health
  • Health Services
  • Malaria
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Personnel
  • Mood Disorders
  • Neurobehavioral Manifestations
  • Pain
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychological Tests
  • Side Effects
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Medicine
  • Psychology

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Mental Health of Military Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Risk Factors, Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment.
  • Parasitology and Pharmacology of Malaria.