Kleine-Levin Syndrome in a Young Woman Triggered in Travel: A Case Report From Iran in COVID-19 Arena

Kleine-Levin syndrome (KLS) is a rare disorder often associated with recurrent hypersomnia, first described by Klein in 1925 but named in 1942 by Critchley and Hoffman. KLS is more common in adolescence and is also more common in men than women. It must be distinguished from repetitive depressive disorder, or psychotic disorder.

In this report, we present a 27-year-old woman with KLS who showed symptoms such as overeating and mood changes, unwillingness to talk to anyone, and a sedentary lifestyle. Meanwhile, during these periods, other symptoms such as lack of speech, decreased energy, lethargy, and slowness of mental and mood movements were observed in the patient. Eventually, with lithium consumption, her symptoms improve significantly. However, the exact cause of this syndrome and its definitive treatment is still unknown and will require further reports and studies.

According to the reported case, KLS may be triggered by travel and migration, and in such a situation, may respond well to lithium.