COVID-19 and catatonia: Prevalence, challenges, pathophysiology, and treatment.
Publication/Presentation Date
5-1-2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emerging literature supports the association between acute COVID-19 infection and neuropsychiatric complications. This article reviews the evidence for catatonia as a potential neuropsychiatric sequela of COVID-19 infection.
METHODS: PubMed was searched using the terms catatonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and COVID-19. Articles were limited to those published in the English language between 2020 and 2022. Forty-five articles that specifically studied catatonia associated with acute COVID-19 infection were screened.
RESULTS: Overall, 30% of patients with severe COVID-19 infection developed psychiatric symptoms. We found 41 cases of COVID-19 and catatonia, with clinical presentations that varied in onset, duration, and severity. One death was reported in a case of catatonia. Cases were reported in patients with and without a known psychiatric history. Lorazepam was successfully used, along with electroconvulsive therapy, antipsychotics, and other treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: Greater recognition and treatment of catatonia in individuals with COVID-19 infection is warranted. Clinicians should be familiar with recognizing catatonia as a potential outcome of COVID-19 infection. Early detection and appropriate treatment are likely to lead to better outcomes.
Volume
35
Issue
2
First Page
118
Last Page
130
ISSN
1547-3325
Published In/Presented At
Oh, J., Sahota, P. C., Mohammadi, T., Pradhan, B. K., & Koola, M. M. (2023). COVID-19 and catatonia: Prevalence, challenges, pathophysiology, and treatment. Annals of clinical psychiatry : official journal of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists, 35(2), 118–130. https://doi.org/10.12788/acp.0109
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
37074970
Department(s)
Fellows and Residents
Document Type
Article