Objective: Our report aims to discuss psychotherapy as a treatment modality for Latah.

Background: Latah is a culture-specific startle syndrome (classically identified in Malaysian/Indonesian patients) which comprises of a myriad of motor startle responses (e.g echolalia, echomimia, echopraxia, coprolalia, hyper suggestibility and forced obedience) after exposure to external stimuli. While the consequences to physical health are minimal, Latah causes remarkable psychosocial impacts to the suffers; it has also been reported that a high proportion of patients with Latah had interference to daily activities. Effective treatments are lacking.

Method: A few psychotherapy sessions (combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy) were conducted on our patient. Comparisons using videos prior to and after psychotherapy sessions were made, noting his motor startle responses. Self-reporting from the patient on self-esteem and daily activities was also compared.

Results: Videos of a patient with Latah before and after psychotherapy were compared. Post psychotherapy, the patient significantly improved in terms of startle reaction when given external stimuli. Hyperexcitability was the main domain observed to have greatly improved. Patient also self-reported to have better self esteem and experienced less daily embarrassment and distress. (videos available for presentation)

Conclusion: Our case report supports the role of psychotherapy in Latah. This may also suggest that Latah has a strong psycho-emotional component in its pathophysiology and addressing the mind may be the way forward.

References: 1. Lim T, Tan K, Eow G, Bhidayasiri R. A South East Asian perspective of neuropsychiatric startle syndromes of latah. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2022.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/psychotherapy-as-a-potential-treatment-for-neuropsychiatric-startle-syndromes-of-latah-a-case-report/