title: Prevalence and symptomatology of catatonia in elderly patients referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and clinical correlations of catatonia in patients aged over 65 years who are referred to a consultation-liaison service within a regional area of Australia. Additionally, to examine if the use of standardised screening tools is likely to change the rate of diagnosis of catatonia within the consultation-liaison service.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and eight referrals from general hospital wards were assessed using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument (BFCSI) and associated examination; each consented patient was screened for catatonic symptoms. If two or more signs were present on the BFCSI, then severity was rated using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. These clinical characteristics were compared with their socio-demographic and medical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of catatonia was 5.5%. The most common symptoms appeared to be rigidity, posturing and immobility (67% of cases), and were elicited through routine psychiatric examination.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Routine psychiatric history and examination are likely sufficient to elicit catatonic signs in a consultation-liaison setting. Standardised screening examination may be more suited for conducting research or for use when examining for catatonia in psychiatric inpatient settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Jacqui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaelle
authors.affiliation: Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Anju
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abujam
authors.affiliation: Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Harsha
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ediriweera
authors.affiliation: Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Wollongong Hospital, Wollongong, NSW, and; University of Wollongong Graduate School of Medicine, Wollongong, NSW, Australia mmacfarlane1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002389:Catatonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: catatonia; consult-liaison psychiatry; psychosomatic medicine