Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that may present a difficult
diagnostic dilemma. Catatonic disorder due to general medical conditions
must be considered in every patient with catatonic signs. Four patients
with this disorder are presented. In these patients, general medical
conditions associated with catatonic disorder included dystonia, HIV
encephalopathy, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, encephalitis,
and renal failure. Three of these patients had multifactorial presentations
of medical conditions or prior psychiatric disorders. A critical literature
review concerning catatonia and associated nonpsychiatric medical
conditions only infrequently supported causal relationships between organic
factors and the development of catatonia. The majority of patients have
multifactorial etiologies.
Abstract Teaser