The Spectrum Between Catatonia and Functional Neurologic Disorder Superimposed on Post-Infectious Encephalitis in a...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Catatonia is typically viewed as a psychiatric symptom, but non-psychiatric medical conditions can also cause it.
• Symptomatic complexity and broad differential diagnoses challenge clinical evaluation and treatment of catatonia.
• Functional neurological disorder (FND) presents diverse symptoms, sometimes overlapping with catatonia, further complicating diagnoses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a unique case of catatonia in a U.S. Marine recruit.
• To explore the diagnostic challenges posed by inconsistent catatonic symptoms.
• To highlight the interplay between neurological and psychiatric contributions to catatonia and FND.

Main Methods:

• Case report detailing a Marine recruit's complex clinical presentation.
• Analysis of diagnostic uncertainty due to overlapping neurological and psychiatric symptoms.
• Consideration of potential encephalitis exacerbating catatonic symptoms.

Main Results:

• Diagnostic uncertainty arose from inconsistent catatonic symptoms.
• The patient's condition was ultimately attributed to both neurologic and psychiatric factors.
• The case underscores that diagnoses are not mutually exclusive and require ongoing reassessment.

Conclusions:

• Catatonia necessitates considering both psychiatric and non-psychiatric medical conditions.
• The spectrum between catatonia and functional neurological disorder can be blurred, especially with co-morbidities.
• Continuous re-evaluation of diagnoses is crucial as new clinical data emerges.