Benzodiazepine withdrawal - Induced catatonia

Benzodiazepines are considered to be the most effective treatment in patien ts suffering from an acute catatonic syndrome [5]. Especially lorazepam has been proven to alleviate psychomotor retardation and mutism [4]. The posit ive effects of benzodiazepines in catatonic patients are reported to be ful ly reversed by benzodiazepine receptor antagonists [6]. While there is suff icient evidence supporting the efficacy of benzodiazepines in acute cataton ia, only few cases with catatonic symptoms due to abrupt benzodiazepine wit hdrawal have been reported. Two of these patients developed catatonia after discontinuing treatment with several psychopharmacological agents, benzodi azepines being one of them [1,2]. Rosebush and Mazurek,however, reported fo ur elderly patients with catatonia after withdrawal of benzodiazepines, the only substance previously given [3]. We report the case of a middle-aged p atient suffering from a clear catatonic syndrome after withdrawal of benzod iazepines.