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Published on: November 21, 2013
[Prevalence and clinical significance of catatonic symptoms in mania]
P Bräunig1, S Krüger, G Shugar
1Klinik für Psychiatrie, Verhaltensmedizin und Psychosomatik, Klinikum Chemnitz, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Universität Leipzig.
Objective:
The study investigates the prevalence, clinical characteristics and implications of catatonic symptoms in mania.
Methods:
Sixty-one in patients with DSM-III-R bipolar disorder, manic or mixed episode established by SCID were assessed for the presence of catatonia by a 21-item rating scale. Associated symptoms, comorbidity and severity of the manic episode were also systematically assessed.
Results:
Nineteen patients fulfilled criteria for catatonic mania exhibiting between 5 and 16 catatonic symptoms. Catatonic manics had more mixed episodes, more severe manic symptoms, more general psychopathology, a higher prevalence of comorbidity, longer hospitalization and lower GAF-scores than the non-catatonics.
Conclusions:
The results indicate that catatonic symptoms are a marker of a more severe course and outcome in mania.
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