Catatonic coma with profound bradycardia

Oliver Freudenreich, Joseph P. McEvoy, Donald C. Goff, Gregory L. Fricchione

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Catatonia may be mono symptomatic at presentation, with stupor or coma as the cardinal and only manifestation. A case of catatonic coma with profound bradycardia is presented to help clinicians recognize this entity and include catatonia in the differential diagnosis of coma as a rare etiology after other more common causes of coma have been excluded. Cases of catatonic coma are nevertheless important to identify because treatment with intravenous benzodiazepines is simple and highly effective. The authors argue that the descriptive term "catatonic coma" is preferable over terms implying psycho gene sis, such as "psychogenic" or "hysterical" coma; for catatonia, the authors have a specific treatment, in the form of benzodiazepines; for "psychogenesis," there is none.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)74-78
Number of pages5
JournalPsychosomatics
Volume48
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
  • Applied Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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