Catatonic schizophrenia: historical error of psychiatric taxonomy?

Abstract

Numerous clinical observations and studies of recent decades allow us to question the existence of a catatonic form of schizophrenia or, in any case, the legitimacy of the unconditional attribution of all cases of catatonia to schizophrenia. Antipsychotics used in the treatment of schizophrenia are often ineffective in patients with catatonia, can worsen its manifestations and increase the risk of malignant neuroleptic syndrome. The first-line drugs in the treatment of catatonia are lorazepam and other benzodiazepines, and electroconvulsive therapy is used in case of their ineffectiveness. The concept of the independence of catatonia as a separate neuropsychiatric disease requiring the special therapeutic approaches that do not coincide with traditional treatment of schizophrenia deserves attention.

Keywords

catatonia / schizophrenia / benzodiazepines / electroconvulsive therapy / first-generation antipsychotics / second-generation antipsychotics

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Sivolap Y.P., Portnova A.A.