What Internists and Neurologists Know and Think About Catatonia.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Internal Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Medical Education

Background:

• Catatonia is a treatable neuropsychiatric syndrome.
• Awareness and recognition of catatonia are suboptimal among non-psychiatric specialists.
• Targeted educational interventions are needed to improve catatonia care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess catatonia knowledge and attitudes among internists and neurologists.
• To identify gaps in understanding and inform educational strategies.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational module on catatonia recognition.

Main Methods:

• Online survey and educational module dissemination via professional networks.
• Targeted eligible practitioners in internal medicine and neurology.
• Comparison of Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) performance with a historical psychiatry cohort.

Main Results:

• Most participants identified catatonia sequelae and benzodiazepines as first-line treatment.
• Low completion rates (18%) for educational modules despite agreement on training importance.
• Internists and neurologists scored significantly lower on the BFCRS compared to psychiatrists.

Conclusions:

• Significant knowledge gaps in catatonia exist among internists and neurologists.
• Low engagement with educational materials suggests potential attitudinal barriers.
• Enhanced education and awareness campaigns are crucial for improving catatonia recognition and management.