title: A clinical review of the treatment of catatonia.
abstract: Catatonia is a severe motor syndrome with an estimated prevalence among psychiatric inpatients of about 10%. At times, it is life-threatening especially in its malignant form when complicated by fever and autonomic disturbances. Catatonia can accompany many different psychiatric illnesses and somatic diseases. In order to recognize the catatonic syndrome, apart from thorough and repeated observation, a clinical examination is needed. A screening instrument, such as the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale, can guide the clinician through the neuropsychiatric examination. Although severe and life-threatening, catatonia has a good prognosis. Research on the treatment of catatonia is scarce, but there is overwhelming clinical evidence of the efficacy of benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, and electroconvulsive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mood Disorders and Electroconvulsive Therapy, University Psychiatric Center, KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium ; Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sienaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center , Jackson, MS , USA.
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dhossche
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Center, KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vancampfort
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Center, KU Leuven , Leuven , Belgium.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Hert
authors.affiliation: Center for Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, Szent István and Szent László Hospitals , Budapest , Hungary ; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gazdag
keywords: benzodiazepines; catatonia; electroconvulsive therapy; glutamate antagonists; transcranial magnetic stimulation; zolpidem