Catatonia in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: case report

A young woman with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and a history of "catatonic schizophrenia" proved to have had a prolonged previous episode of TTP with catatonic features. TTP may present with a variety of "mental" phenomena; its pathophysiology may prove to be relevant to psychiatry. As a treatable but potentially fatal disease, its recognition is important.