Methamphetamine-associated catatonia: Case series and systematic review of the literature from 1943-2020.

BACKGROUND: Catatonia due to a general medical condition may result from a variety of causes, including substance intoxication and withdrawal. Stimulants are occasionally associated with catatonia, though there has been little investigation of methamphetamine's relationship to catatonia. Here we present 5 cases of catatonia associated with methamphetamine use and a systematic review of the associated literature from 1943 to 2020. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature and present 5 cases of catatonia evaluated using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale and KANNER catatonia rating scale. RESULTS: Methamphetamine use was associated with catatonia in a small number of cases in the literature. However, some of these reports included other possible etiologies. The patients in our case series met DSM-5 criteria for catatonia due to a general medical condition, with all reporting recent methamphetamine use and testing positive for amphetamines on urine drug screen. CONCLUSIONS: Given the ongoing rise in methamphetamine use in the United States, it is important that clinicians understand that methamphetamine use can be associated with catatonia. Patients with methamphetamine-associated catatonia may respond favorably to lorazepam and require shorter hospital stays than other catatonic patients. Lastly, methamphetamine-associated catatonia highlights how alteration in dopamine function and projections may be a critical neural mechanism underlying catatonia in general.

Incontinence as a catatonic sign.

BACKGROUND: Incontinence (urinary or fecal) is not included in DSM-5 criteria for catatonia or in most catatonia rating scales. However, there is a historical basis for the inclusion or consideration of incontinence as a catatonic sign. METHODS: We performed a review of the literature and found references to urinary disturbances and fecal incontinence in 19th- and 20th-century literature. We did a computerized literature review using the terms "catatonia," "catatonic," and "incontinence." RESULTS: We highlight 2 cases in which urinary or fecal incontinence was a presenting or predominant feature of catatonia. Clinical improvement was associated with improvement in incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that urinary and fecal incontinence may be an uncommon presentation of catatonia. Furthermore, incontinence may improve at the same time catatonia improves with treatment. The neural circuitry that controls micturition and the sphincter involves neural pathways and multiple neurotransmitters. Catatonia can cause a reemergence of involuntary or reflex maturation, leading to urinary incontinence. This may lead to the need for additional custodial care for patients. Thus, the detection and monitoring of urinary and fecal incontinence may help us better understand the pathophysiology and impairment associated with catatonia.

Krankheitsreste: The residual signs of catatonia. A case series.

BACKGROUND: Catatonic signs were first described by 19th- and 20th-century researchers. An important concept known as "Krankheitsreste," or the residual signs of catatonia, was described by Kraepelin in 1896. Modern researchers describe patients who demonstrate "partial response to the treatment of catatonia with residual signs." Kraepelin observed that these signs occurred between catatonic episodes as part of the natural course of illness. Modern psychiatrists see residual signs after intervention or treatment. The determination of residual signs of catatonia is necessary to evaluate the most effective treatment approach to the patient. METHODS: In this case series, we describe 3 patients whose catatonia improved with treatment, but each exhibited continued residual signs of the syndrome. Appropriate consent was obtained from the patients and we identified the varying levels of catatonic signs using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) and the KANNER scale. RESULTS: Scores on both the BFCRS and KANNER scale decreased on followup in all 3 patients, with varying levels of success. The BFCRS score for the patient in Case 1 dropped 4 points upon follow-up, and their score on Part 2 of the KANNER scale decreased 12 points. The patient in Case 2 experienced a 5-point drop in their BFCRS score at follow-up and their score on Part 2 of the KANNER scale decreased 4 points. In Case 3, the patient's BFCRS score dropped 10 points at follow-up and their score on Part 2 of the KANNER scale decreased 20 points. CONCLUSIONS: These 3 patients demonstrate Krankheitsreste, or "partial response to the treatment of catatonia with residual signs." Each patient had a developmental disorder and 2 had autism spectrum disorder. They exhibited improved self-care and greater independence and required less restrictive living environments.