Catatonia Causing Permanent Cognitive Impairment: A Case Study

Abstract

We describe a case of psychogenic malignant catatonia resulting in permanent cognitive impairment.

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by catalepsy, negativism, mutism, muscular rigidity, and mannerisms, often accompanied by autonomic instability and fever. Little is known about the long-term cognitive consequences of the syndrome.

Medical history includes neurologic examination, neuropsychological evaluation, electroencephalographic data, magnetic resonance imaging, sodium amytal interview, and treatment with electroconvulsive therapy.

Selective deficits in executive function and an anterograde amnesia were evident a week post-ECT treatment and continued to be present at follow-up after 2 years and 8 months.

The permanent cognitive impairments are considered in the context of catatonia as a frontal lobe syndrome.