A case of catatonia induced by bacterial meningoencephalitis

A 51-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma developed lethargy, disorientation, and fever; shortly thereafter, he had several episodes of sudden-onset catatonia. He was found to have bacterial meningoencephalitis and frontal lobe EEG abnormalities. Treatment with antibiotic and phenytoin was started, and the catatonic episodes subsided. The authors emphasize the need for a diligent investigation of all possible causes of sudden-onset catatonic syndrome and recommend that bacterial meningoencephalitis be added to the list of differential diagnoses of acute catatonia.