Bulgarian Journal of Psychiatry, 2024; 9(3):22-25
Catatonia as a neuropsychiatric syndrome with various etiologies: A case series from psychosomatic ward of a large referral hospital
Sayedeh Elham Sharafi1, Narjes Sadat Farizani Gohari2,3, Reza Bidaki3, Ehsan Bastami4
1Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
2Yazd University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
3Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
4Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
Abstract. Introduction. Catatonia is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome presented in psychiatric, neurological, medical, substance, and drug-related conditions. The reported prevalence and incidence of catatonia in psychiatric populations range from 6% to 38%, and from 7% to 17%, respectively. There is scarce data about the epidemiology and manifestations of this condition. Case presentation. In this paper, we present nine patients referred to the psychosomatic ward of a large referral hospital in Tehran, Iran. Each of them had various signs and symptoms with a common final diagnosis of catatonia. All patients received psychopharmacotherapy such as clonazepam and quetiapine, and, besides, they underwent electroconvulsive therapy. Conclusion. The catatonic syndrome appears in different forms of psychosis. Each patient with catatonic manifestations referred to the psychosomatic ward of a general hospital should receive thorough assessment for underlying medical condition and individual treatment accordingly.
Key words: catatonia, psycho c disorders, mood disorders
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