Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2025
05:52
Handwriting Analysis Indicates Spontaneous Dyskinesias in Neuroleptic Naïve Adolescents at High Risk for Psychosis
Published on: November 21, 2013
15.0K
Risk Factors for Catatonia Relapse in Psychotic and Affective Disorders
Harsh Pathak1, Sneha Susan Varghese1, Satish Suhas1
1National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
JAMA Psychiatry
|July 30, 2025
Summary
Catatonia frequently recurs, with nearly half of patients relapsing within two years. Antipsychotic maintenance therapy may significantly reduce the risk of catatonia relapse.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Catatonia is a recurrent neuropsychiatric syndrome with poorly understood long-term course and relapse risk factors.
- Understanding relapse patterns is crucial for developing effective long-term management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the rate of catatonia relapse.
- To identify demographic, clinical, and treatment-related factors associated with relapse in patients with psychotic and affective spectrum disorders.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study at a tertiary neuropsychiatric center.
- Included 303 patients with catatonia from emergency and acute care services (2014-2017).
- Utilized survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression) for up to 78 months follow-up.
Main Results:
- Relapse occurred in 48.8% of patients, with highest risk within 2 years of the initial episode.
- Antipsychotic prescriptions at discharge were linked to longer time to relapse and a 41.1% reduction in relapse risk.
- No significant association found between underlying psychiatric diagnosis (psychotic vs. affective) and relapse rates.
Conclusions:
- Catatonia is a recurrent condition, with a high relapse rate within the first two years.
- Antipsychotic maintenance therapy appears vital for preventing catatonia relapse.
- Further research is needed on catatonia's pathophysiology and long-term management.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
189
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
189
01:28Psychosis and Antipsychotic Drugs: Overview
458
The term "psychosis" refers to a spectrum of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, and behaviors. It can manifest as mood disorders, dementia, delirium with psychotic features, substance-induced psychosis with psychotic features, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Among all these disorders, schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder, affecting 1% of the worldwide population. Psychotic...
458
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
209
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
209
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
967
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
967
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
321
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as...
321
01:30Bipolar Disorder
144
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
144