Abstract | OBJECTIVES: We describe the clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of a sample of inpatients with bipolar disorder with severe catatonic features resistant to pharmacological treatment. METHODS: The study involved 26 catatonic patients, resistant to a trial of benzodiazepines, and then treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). All patients were evaluated prior to and one week following the ECT course using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). RESULTS: In our sample, women were over-represented (n = 23, 88.5%), the mean (± standard deviation) age was 49.5 ± 12.5 years, the mean age at onset was 28.1 ± 12.8 years, and the mean number of previous mood episodes was 5.3 ± 2.9. The mean duration of catatonic symptoms was 16.7 ± 11.8 (range: 3-50) weeks, and personal history of previous catatonic episodes was present in 10 patients (38.5%). Seventeen (65.4%) patients showed abnormalities at cerebral computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging and neurological comorbidities were observed in 15.4% of the sample. Stupor, rigidity, staring, negativism, withdrawal, and mutism were observed in more than 90% of patients. At the end of the ECT course, 21 patients (80.8%) were classified as responders. The BFCRS showed the largest percentage of improvement, with an 82% reduction of the initial score. The number of previous mood episodes was significantly lower and the use of anticholinergic and dopamine-agonist medications was significantly more frequent in non-responders than in responders. CONCLUSIONS: Our patients with bipolar disorder had predominantly retarded catatonia, frequent previous catatonic episodes, indicating a recurrent course, and high rates of concomitant brain structure alterations. However, ECT was a very effective treatment for catatonia in this patient group that was resistant to benzodiazepines.
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Authors | Pierpaolo Medda, Cristina Toni, Federica Luchini, Michela Giorgi Mariani, Mauro Mauri, Giulio Perugi |
Journal | Bipolar disorders
(Bipolar Disord)
Vol. 17
Issue 8
Pg. 892-901
(Dec 2015)
ISSN: 1399-5618 [Electronic] Denmark |
PMID | 26643014
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)
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Copyright | © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Bipolar Disorder
(complications, diagnosis, epidemiology, psychology)
- Catatonia
(diagnosis, etiology, psychology, therapy)
- Drug Resistance
- Electroconvulsive Therapy
(methods)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
- Psychotropic Drugs
(therapeutic use)
- Recurrence
- Treatment Outcome
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