Neuroleptic-induced catatonia.(News Note)(Brief article)

In his recently published report Joseph W.Y. Lee investigated neuroleptic-induced catatonia (NIC), its clinical presentation, its response to benzodiazepines, and the hypothesis that NIC and neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) are on the same spectrum with a continuum of symptom progression. The study considered 127 episodes of catatonia in 116 patients who were prospectively identified at 2 psychiatric intensive care units over an 8-year period. Of the 127 episodes, 18 (14%) were diagnosed with NIC. All catatonia episodes received benzodiazepines. The response of the NIC episodes to benzodiazepines was compared with those for catatonia …