CLINICAL TRIAL
JOURNAL ARTICLE
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Lorazepam-diazepam protocol for catatonia in schizophrenia: a 21-case analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Catatonia is a unique clinical phenomenon characterized by concurrent motor, emotional, vegetative and behavioral signs. Benzodiazepines (BZD) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can rapidly relieve catatonic signs. The lorazepam-diazepam protocol presented here has been proven to relieve catatonia in schizophrenia within a day.

METHODS: From July 2002 to August 2011, schizophrenic patients requiring psychiatric intervention for catatonia in Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were studied by medical chart review. The study used the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS). Patients receiving the lorazepam-diazepam protocol were identified.

RESULTS: The survey included 21 patients (eight males and 13 females) with a mean age of 30.3 ± 12.6 years. Mean duration of schizophrenia was 4.7 ± 5.6 years. Thirteen (61.9%) patients responded within 2 h, 18 (85.7%) responded within one day, and all became catatonia-free within a week. Mean BFCRS score was 9.9 ± 3.0 before treatment. Patients that responded with a single intramuscular lorazepam injection had mean BFCRS score of 8.9 ± 2.8, significantly lower than the mean score (11.6 ± 2.5) of the rest of the patients (p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS: The lorazepam-diazepam protocol can rapidly relieve retarded catatonia in schizophrenia. Most patients became catatonia-free within one day but some may require up to a week. ECT should be considered if the protocol fails.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app