Viceroys in the Garden With the Monarch Butterflies: Medical Mimics of Catatonia.

OBJECTIVES

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome with diverse etiologies, often presenting significant diagnostic and research challenges due to an extremely heterogenic symptomology and pathology. The differential for catatonia is further complicated by distinct, non-catatonic medical mimics of catatonia that present similarly. We propose a new delineation of medical mimics of catatonia and an approach to differential diagnosis that will better account for the complexities of catatonia and its mimics, ultimately leading to more clinically relevant outcomes.

METHODS

We obtained all case reports and case series from a Regional Medical Center in a 6-month period. All patients were diagnosed initially with F06.1 Catatonia. All patients had assessments with Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale and the KANNER catatonia rating scale. Data included diagnoses, comorbidities, treatment approaches, and outcomes.

RESULTS

We found 12 cases that met the inclusion criteria. We identified the primary diagnosis of catatonia and comorbid diagnoses. There were 3 case studies, 4 case series (N=2), and 1 presentation. Six of the 12 had co-existing medical conditions that are classified as medical mimics of catatonia. The treatment approach, diagnostic workup, and outcomes were available for all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding of 50% medical mimics in our study of catatonia is analogous to encountering Viceroys in the Butterfly Garden with the Monarchs. The medical mimics, the Viceroys, are often excluded from the study of catatonia, the Monarchs, and reduce the study population. Nonetheless, the Viceroys encountered on psychiatric units, outpatient clinics, emergency rooms and consultation-liaison services still warrant assessment and treatment.