title: Recurrent opisthotonus in catatonia: An atypical presentation.
abstract: Opisthotonus is known to occur in tetanus, rabies, cerebral malaria, neurosyphilis, acute cerebral injury and other medical conditions. Opisthotonus, so far, has not been reported in any major psychiatric disorder. Authors report a case of recurrent opisthotonus presenting concurrently with other catatonic signs which showed dramatic response to combination of lorazepam and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Clinicians should consider the possibility of catatonia in the differential diagnosis of opisthotonus since catatonia can be treated easily with benzodiazepines and ECT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India. manjunatha.adc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Narayana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manjunatha
authors.forename: Urvakhsh Meherwan
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: John
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002389:Catatonia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004421:Dystonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009128:Muscle Spasticity; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018757:GABA Modulators; D008140:Lorazepam