Catatonia: A Clinician's Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment

by Max Fink , Michael Alan Taylor

• ISBN13: 9780521032360
• ISBN10: 0521032369
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-11-23
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Catatonia is a syndrome of motor dysregulation (mutism, peculiar postures, repetitive speech, negativism and imitative movements), and is found in as many as ten per cent of acutely ill psychiatric inpatients. Although its classification has been controversial, the identification of catatonia is not difficult, but it is often missed, leading to the false notion that the syndrome is rare. Catatonia has various presentations, and may be caused by many neurologic and general medical conditions, most commonly mood disorder. Treatments are well defined, and when used, catatonia has an excellent prognosis. This book, by two leading neuropsychiatrists, describes the features of catatonia, teaches the reader how to identify and treat the syndrome successfully, and describes its neurobiology. Patient vignettes from the authors' practices, and many from the classical literature, illustrate the principles of diagnosing and treating patients with catatonia. It is an essential clinical reference for psychiatrists and neurologists.

Table of Contents

List of patient vignettes

Preface

Acknowledgments

Chronology of catatonia concepts

Catatonia: a history

Signs of catatonia are identifiable

The many faces of catatonia

The differential diagnosis of catatonia

Catatonia is measurable and common

Past treatments for catatonia

Management of catatonia today

The neurology of catatonia

Back to the future

Appendices

References

Index

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