A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter?
Abstract Background There is growing concern about the psychopathological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prolonged stress due to the spreading fear of the contagion and to the enforced containment measures are deemed to trigger recurrences of preexisting mental disorders as well as the o...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-021-00377-9 |
| _version_ | 1819096212187381760 |
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| author | Liliana Dell’Osso Giulia Amatori Camilla Gesi Claudia Carmassi |
| author_facet | Liliana Dell’Osso Giulia Amatori Camilla Gesi Claudia Carmassi |
| author_sort | Liliana Dell’Osso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There is growing concern about the psychopathological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prolonged stress due to the spreading fear of the contagion and to the enforced containment measures are deemed to trigger recurrences of preexisting mental disorders as well as the onset of new ones. From such perspective, clinical cases may be of primary ground to identify individual features and pandemic-related factors predisposing to the development of serious psychiatric symptoms. Case presentation Mr. R. is a 64-year-old, married, unemployed man, whose premorbid personality was characterized by relevant autistic traits. The patient developed catatonia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed at discussing the role of both preexisting and precipitating factors. Conclusions Autism spectrum could represent a predisposing factor for severe psychopathological outcome and catatonia. Furthermore, the present clinical case highlights the role of COVID-19 pandemic in influencing physical and mental health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:55:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68d16f91a08e4056963f9ebc5daf3903 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1744-859X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:55:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of General Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-68d16f91a08e4056963f9ebc5daf39032022-12-21T18:45:50ZengBMCAnnals of General Psychiatry1744-859X2021-12-012011410.1186/s12991-021-00377-9A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter?Liliana Dell’Osso0Giulia Amatori1Camilla Gesi2Claudia Carmassi3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaDepartment of Mental Health and Addiction, ASST Fatebenefratelli-SaccoDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of PisaAbstract Background There is growing concern about the psychopathological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prolonged stress due to the spreading fear of the contagion and to the enforced containment measures are deemed to trigger recurrences of preexisting mental disorders as well as the onset of new ones. From such perspective, clinical cases may be of primary ground to identify individual features and pandemic-related factors predisposing to the development of serious psychiatric symptoms. Case presentation Mr. R. is a 64-year-old, married, unemployed man, whose premorbid personality was characterized by relevant autistic traits. The patient developed catatonia in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed at discussing the role of both preexisting and precipitating factors. Conclusions Autism spectrum could represent a predisposing factor for severe psychopathological outcome and catatonia. Furthermore, the present clinical case highlights the role of COVID-19 pandemic in influencing physical and mental health.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-021-00377-9CatatoniaAutism spectrum disorder (ASD)COVID-19RuminationNeurodevelopmental disorderElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) |
| spellingShingle | Liliana Dell’Osso Giulia Amatori Camilla Gesi Claudia Carmassi A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter? Annals of General Psychiatry Catatonia Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) COVID-19 Rumination Neurodevelopmental disorder Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) |
| title | A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter? |
| title_full | A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter? |
| title_fullStr | A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter? |
| title_full_unstemmed | A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter? |
| title_short | A case of catatonia in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: does autism spectrum matter? |
| title_sort | case of catatonia in the aftermath of the covid 19 pandemic does autism spectrum matter |
| topic | Catatonia Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) COVID-19 Rumination Neurodevelopmental disorder Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12991-021-00377-9 |
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