Clinical and psychopathological aspects of catatonia pathomorphosis

Abstract

Over the last century frequency of diagnosed catatonic states continuously decreased. This phenomenon can be explained through hypothesis of pathomorphosis of psychiatric diseases. Pathomorphosis is an important aspect of mental diseases, including catatonic states, especially therapeutic pathomorphosis. Changes in clinical presentation of psychosis led to under-recognition of catatonic signs, that cause incorrect diagnostic and treatment tactics. The aim of this study is to investigate clinical and psychopathological features of psychosis with catatonic features and actual differences in clinical presentation compared to traditional descriptions and earlier clinical cases. Two groups of patients was explored. First is patients, which admitted to psychiatric hospital due to psychosis with catatonic features. Second group contains archival clinical cases of patients, which were treated since 1969 to 1972, before introduction of atypical antipsychotics to clinical practice.