Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications
ABSTRACT: Although catatonia is a common syndrome, diagnosis is often delayed or missed altogether. The medical sequelae of catatonia can cloud the diagnostic picture, making it difficult to know what is the primary problem. In this case, a patient presented several times about 1 month apart with re...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Ottawa
2015-11-01
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| Series: | University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://uottawa.scholarsportal.info/ottawa/index.php/uojm-jmuo/article/view/1414 |
| _version_ | 1818473671805632512 |
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| author | Marion K Malone Timothy Lau |
| author_facet | Marion K Malone Timothy Lau |
| author_sort | Marion K Malone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT:
Although catatonia is a common syndrome, diagnosis is often delayed or missed altogether. The medical sequelae of catatonia can cloud the diagnostic picture, making it difficult to know what is the primary problem. In this case, a patient presented several times about 1 month apart with recurrent urinary retention, inability to walk, and delirium. This resulted in admissions to Internal Medicine and consultations to Urology with the underlying primary problem being missed until catatonia was later recognized and diagnosed. The elderly are more prone to complications from catatonia and, as a result, it is even more important that catatonia be recognized and treated in a timely manner in this population. In addition to exploring the case, this article reviews the diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, and treatment of catatonia, particularly as these pertain to the elderly.
RÉSUMÉ:
La catatonie est un syndrome commun, mais son diagnostic est parfois difficile à faire. Les symptômes associés à ce syndrome peuvent rendre le problème médical primaire difficile à déceler. Par exemple, l’association récurrente de symptômes de rétention urinaire, des difficultés à marcher et des signes de syndrome confusionnel qui se présentent chaque mois sont souvent associés à d’autres maladies. Ces manifestations symptomatiques mènent à des admissions en médecine interne et des consultations en urologie. Les cliniciens peuvent perdre de vue le problème primaire, celui de la catatonie. Le diagnostic est alors manqué ou découvert plus tard. Les personnes âgées sont plus susceptibles à des complications liées à la catatonie. Ainsi, il s’avère important que ce désordre soit reconnu et traité dans un délai raisonnable chez cette population. Cet article évalue le diagnostic, l’étiologie, le pronostic et le traitement de la catatonie, particulièrement dans le cadre des personnes âgées. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:26:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b51594a41d6f4f86a041af720f71824e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2292-650X 2292-6518 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T04:26:36Z |
| publishDate | 2015-11-01 |
| publisher | University of Ottawa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-b51594a41d6f4f86a041af720f71824e2022-12-22T02:12:18ZengUniversity of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa Journal of Medicine2292-650X2292-65182015-11-015210.18192/uojm.v5i2.1414Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical ComplicationsMarion K Malone0Timothy Lau1University of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa The Royal Ottawa Mental Health CentreABSTRACT: Although catatonia is a common syndrome, diagnosis is often delayed or missed altogether. The medical sequelae of catatonia can cloud the diagnostic picture, making it difficult to know what is the primary problem. In this case, a patient presented several times about 1 month apart with recurrent urinary retention, inability to walk, and delirium. This resulted in admissions to Internal Medicine and consultations to Urology with the underlying primary problem being missed until catatonia was later recognized and diagnosed. The elderly are more prone to complications from catatonia and, as a result, it is even more important that catatonia be recognized and treated in a timely manner in this population. In addition to exploring the case, this article reviews the diagnosis, etiology, prognosis, and treatment of catatonia, particularly as these pertain to the elderly. RÉSUMÉ: La catatonie est un syndrome commun, mais son diagnostic est parfois difficile à faire. Les symptômes associés à ce syndrome peuvent rendre le problème médical primaire difficile à déceler. Par exemple, l’association récurrente de symptômes de rétention urinaire, des difficultés à marcher et des signes de syndrome confusionnel qui se présentent chaque mois sont souvent associés à d’autres maladies. Ces manifestations symptomatiques mènent à des admissions en médecine interne et des consultations en urologie. Les cliniciens peuvent perdre de vue le problème primaire, celui de la catatonie. Le diagnostic est alors manqué ou découvert plus tard. Les personnes âgées sont plus susceptibles à des complications liées à la catatonie. Ainsi, il s’avère important que ce désordre soit reconnu et traité dans un délai raisonnable chez cette population. Cet article évalue le diagnostic, l’étiologie, le pronostic et le traitement de la catatonie, particulièrement dans le cadre des personnes âgées.https://uottawa.scholarsportal.info/ottawa/index.php/uojm-jmuo/article/view/1414 |
| spellingShingle | Marion K Malone Timothy Lau Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications University of Ottawa Journal of Medicine |
| title | Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications |
| title_full | Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications |
| title_fullStr | Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications |
| title_short | Hidden in Plain Sight: Recognizing Catatonia Amidst its Medical Complications |
| title_sort | hidden in plain sight recognizing catatonia amidst its medical complications |
| url | https://uottawa.scholarsportal.info/ottawa/index.php/uojm-jmuo/article/view/1414 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marionkmalone hiddeninplainsightrecognizingcatatoniaamidstitsmedicalcomplications AT timothylau hiddeninplainsightrecognizingcatatoniaamidstitsmedicalcomplications |