INCREASE OF SERUM CREATINE-PHOSPHOKINASE IN CATATONIA - AN INVESTIGATION IN 32 ACUTE CATATONIC PATIENTS

We investigated serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and associated park insonic (SEPS) and dyskinetic (AIMS) movements in 32 hospital admitted acute catatonic patients. Thirty-two (N = 24 without neuroleptics on admission) catatonic patients were compared with 32 non-catatonic dysk inetic psychiatric patients, 32 non-catatonic non-dyskinetic psychiatr ic patients and 32 healthy controls. CPK was significantly higher (P = 0.015) in catatonics (mean 255.75, S.D. +/- 226.54) than in healthy c ontrols (38.6, +/- 27.4) and non-catatonic non-dyskinetic psychiatric patients (57.1, +/- 120.8) whereas there was no significant difference between catatonics and non-catatonic dyskinetic psychiatric patients (453.4, +/- 128.5). There were significantly positive correlations bet ween CPK and AIMS, as well as significantly negative correlations betw een CPK and SEPS, in all three groups. Our results suggest that increa sed serum CPK in catatonia may be related to occurrence of dyskinetic movements. Furthermore, we were able to distinguish a parkinsonic (low CPK, low AIMS, high SEPS) and a dyskinetic (high CPK, high AIMS, low SEPS) subtype in catatonia.