Benzodiazepines and the psychopathology of catatonia

This paper focuses attention on the importance of psychopathological analysis in the evaluation of benzodiazepine treatment response in catatonia. The authors report the successful reversal of the catatonic syndrome with small doses of benzodiazepine in two patients who demonstrated stupor and excitement respectively. Viewing the catatonic syndrome from a nosological vantage point, they attempt to demonstrate that its response to benzodiazepines is partly determined by the underlying psychiatric disorder. Discussing the psychopathological and clinical concept of catatonia, the authors argue that revision of the legacy of Jaspers and the Wernicke-Kleist-Leonhard school may help to disentangle the current terminological and conceptual ambiguity and confusion.