Immediate Response to Lorazepam in a Patient With 17 years of Chronic Catatonia

Benzodiazepine and electroconvulsive therapy have been the first-line treatments for almost all types of catatonia.2 This case is interesting as it established the utility of short course of lorazepam in a chronic case of catatonia without further recurrence of the condition. Discussion Lorazepam is...

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Published inThe journal of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. E47 - E48
Main Authors Singh, Lokesh K, Praharaj, Samir Kumar
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Psychiatric Association 01.07.2013
American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc
Subjects
Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use
Catatonia - drug therapy
Chronic Disease
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Lorazepam - therapeutic use
Male
Medical research
Middle Aged
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Summary:Benzodiazepine and electroconvulsive therapy have been the first-line treatments for almost all types of catatonia.2 This case is interesting as it established the utility of short course of lorazepam in a chronic case of catatonia without further recurrence of the condition. Discussion Lorazepam is the most commonly used benzodiazepine in the treatment of catatonia, but other benzodiazepines such as diazepam, oxazepam, and clonazepam have also been reported to be effective in catatonia.3 Existing literature suggests that benzodiazepines are effective in acutely-emerging catatonia and their effectiveness is limited by chronicity of symptoms.4,5 Emerging data also emphasized the need for long-term benzodiazepine maintenance therapy for chronic catatonic states.6-8 In contrast, our patient with catatonia of 17 years' duration showed a fast response to lorazepam, with complete resolution of all catatonic signs.
ISSN:0895-0172
1545-7222
DOI:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.12070181