Ictal barking in frontal lobe epilepsy

Abstract

Abstract Nonspeech vocalizations are usually seen in temporal or frontal lobe epileptic focus, especially in the dominant side of the brain. There can be screaming, hooting, barking, humming grunting, etc., Barking is most characteristic, which is commonly seen in mesial frontal lobe epilepsy. In this report, we describe a unique case of ictal barking with onset at 18 years of age mistaken for unspecified psychotic disorder, which was subsequently diagnosed as complex partial seizure following electroencephalogram findings and was maintained on valproate 1500 mg/day, and levetiracetam 1500 mg/day was added along with clobazam 10 mg/day. Ictal barking is mostly focal, similar to our case; however, there has been sparse evidence of ictal barking in generalized seizures as well.