Catatonia: diagnosis and management.

The number of cases of catatonic schizophrenia has decreased in the past 50 years, but a few patients with the syndrome are still seen. The author describes the excited and withdrawn types of catatonia, reviews some organic and psychiatric conditions that resemble them, and gives suggestions for making the differential diagnosis. He discusses the use of the barbiturate interview, ECT, and phenothiazines in treatment, using case examples.