CONSISTENCY OF SYMPTOMS IN RECURRENT CATATONIA

This study examined the consistency of symptom profiles across episode s of catatonia. A recently developed standardized examination and symp tom scale systematically rates 23 motor signs of catatonia, permitting symptom analysis of recurrent illness. Patients from the emergency ro om or inpatient unit were prospectively examined using the 23-item Bus h-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), both on initial presentation and during a later episode of catatonia. Five cases were identified, with a variable interval (mean, 10.7 months; range 4.5 to 20) between episodes. All five met DSM-IV motor criteria for catatonia (293.89) an d research criteria of more than two BFCRS signs. They showed a mean o f 9.6 (range, 7 to 15) catatonic signs in the first episode, and 9.6 ( range, 4 to 14) signs in the second. Of the 23 individual BFCRS motor signs, a mean of 16.6 (range, 13 to 21) showed agreement of signs (abs ence or presence) between the two episodes. The catatonic syndrome sho ws consistency of motor symptoms on recurrent episodes and the BFCRS f acilitates the systematic study of catatonia. Copyright (C) 1997 by W. B. Saunders Company