PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Joshua Au Yeung
TI  - Unusual case of anxiety: trichloroethylene neurotoxicity
AID  - 10.1136/bcr-2017-223074
DP  - 2017 Dec 21
TA  - BMJ Case Reports
PG  - bcr-2017-223074
VI  - 2017
4099  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2017-223074.short
4100  - http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2017/bcr-2017-223074.full
AB  - I present an uncommon case of recurrent, intractable anxiety that was presented acutely and slowly evolved into a chronic debilitating condition. A young previously fit and healthy 24-year-old patient presents with somewhat atypical symptoms of anxiety. Full medical work-up including examination, blood, ECG electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram and CT of the head was unremarkable. When the history was explored in detail, it was revealed he worked in the navy and was exposed to a neurotoxic solvent, trichloroethylene. This case highlights the importance of eliciting a detailed occupational history, particularly paying attention to patient demographics such as occupation and presenting symptoms that do not readily fit into diagnostic criteria.