Dom Pedro I of Brazil and IV of Portugal: epilepsy and peculiar behavior

We present medical issues related to Dom Pedro de Alcântara Bragança e Bourbon (1798-1834), first Emperor of Brazil. This is made by means of narrative revision on historical facts starting from primary and secondary sources. Dom Pedro presented familiar incidence of epilepsy. His seizures were rela...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2007-09, Vol.65 (3A), p.710-715
Main Authors: Gomes, Marleide da Mota, Chalub, Miguel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bourbon
Brazil
Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic - history
Famous Persons
History, 18th Century
History, 19th Century
Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile - history
NEUROSCIENCES
Portugal
PSYCHIATRY
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Summary:We present medical issues related to Dom Pedro de Alcântara Bragança e Bourbon (1798-1834), first Emperor of Brazil. This is made by means of narrative revision on historical facts starting from primary and secondary sources. Dom Pedro presented familiar incidence of epilepsy. His seizures were relatively benign and scattered, supposedly started at the age of 13: idiophatic epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures only or juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. He also had behavioral disorder characterized by hypersexuality, agitation and impulsiveness. It could have facilitated his opportunistic behavior necessary for daring to transgress the conservatism of the Portuguese crown, to create the constitutional monarchism in Brazil and in Portugal.
ISSN:0004-282X
1678-4227
0004-282X
DOI:10.1590/S0004-282X2007000400033