Catatonia incidence in acute psychiatric admissions

Eighty six consecutively admitted unmedicated patients, with a current duration of illness of less than two years, who fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for mood disorder or schizophrenia were assessed for catatonic signs over a three week study period Thirty two of them could be rated as catatonic, most of them starting to exhibit the signs at the time of admission or a few days thereafter. While the percentage of manic patients showing catatonic signs was comparable to earlier studies, a significant proportion of patients belonging to the Schizophrenic and Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder group also exhibited these signs. The reasons for obtaining such a high percentage of catatonias are discussed. It is contended that short lasting catatonic signs are a common feature of acute psychiatric admissions and are ignored when viewed within the framework of an affective or psychotic illness.