La catatonie

Abstract

In the new classification of the DSM-V, catatonia is individualized as a disease of its own. It is defined by presence of at least two out of five criteria: motor immobility, negativism, echolalia or echopraxia, sterile motor activity, atypical movements. The priority is to look first for organic causes: the main ones are neurologic disorders. Intoxication may also be found (illegal drugs or medication), and the role of neuroleptic malignant syndrome in catatonia remains unclear. Among the psychiatric causes, first come bipolar disorders, especially mania; then schizophrenia. Idiopathic forms can also be observed. Epidemiological work on catatonia show highly variable results, highlighting a possible underestimation of the diagnosis. Among the differential diagnoses, which are rare motor syndromes, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and serotonin syndrome are also discussed. The diagnosis of catatonia is clinical and can be obtained using standardized diagnostic scales. The use of zolpidem provides both a diagnostic and therapeutic guidance for the degree of response to drug treatment. The physiopathological hypotheses describe an intracerebral GABAergic, dopaminergic and glutamatergic dysfunction in catatonic patients. The complete mechanisms are still partly unknown. Benzodiazepines are the first treatment of choice. Electroconvulsive therapy is used secondarily or in severe cases. First-generation antipsychotics are prohibited, at the risk of worsening the catatonia in becoming malignant and lethal. The renewed interest in the catatonic syndrome during the past recent years has expanded research on the mechanisms of this syndrome and opened the way to new therapeutic options. The latest works tend to modulate the strict prohibition of antipsychotic in a catatonic patient.

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in catatonia

“…Considering the dysfunction associated with GABAergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmitter 7 in the mechanism of catatonia, the link between neurotransmitters and inflammation is noteworthy. Pro-inflammatory cytokines interact with the cytokine network in the central nervous system; neurotransmitter metabolism, neuroendocrine function, synaptic plasticity and related motor activity so these inflammatory cytokines can affect almost every aspect of brain function related to motivational behavior 29,30 .…”

“…It has been thought that there is central GABAergic, dopaminergic and glutamatergic dysfunction in physiopathology of catatonia 7 .…”

“…Its pathophysiology is not clearly understood 7 . Medical catatonia is related to inflammation, neural damage, neurodevelopmental disorders, structural brain pathologies that affect central nervous system 8 .…”