Catatonia revisited
Karin Sparring Björkstén
Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Neurobiology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-Stockholm
This presentation reminds that catatonia still exists, and that its recognition can be most helpful for patients.
Catatonia is a psychomotor syndrome which can appear in very different ways.
Many psychiatrists believe that catatonia belongs to the history of psychiatry,
and that it is primarily associated with schizophrenia.
Since the introduction of anti-psychotic medication and close-down of the large
mental institutions, psychiatrists in training do not meet as many severely
ill patients as psychiatrists did earlier.
Modern studies show that catatonia appears in about 10 % of patients admitted to psychiatric wards. Catatonia is, however, often not identified.
Many psychiatrists expect to find catatonic symptoms only in patients with schizophrenia, although it is more common in bipolar disorder. Catatonia also occurs in neurological and medical disorders, and in autism spectrum disorder. When not identified as such, catatonic features may be mistaken for BPSD in elderly patients, and as bad behaviour in autism spectrum disorder. When recognized, catatonia is treatable.
A case of catatonia mistaken for BPSD will be presented.