Catatonia associated with late-life psychosis successfully treated with lithium: a case report

Abstract Background Catatonia is a psychomotor syndrome that presents various symptoms ranging from stupor to agitation, with prominent disturbances of volition. Its pathogenesis poorly understood. Benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are safe effective standard treatments for catatonia; however, alternative treatment strategies have not been established in cases where these either ineffective or unavailable. Here, we report case catatonia associated late-life psychosis, which was successfully treated lithium. Case presentation A 66-year-old single man hearing impairment developed hallucination delusions presented catatonic after fall. He initially responded benzodiazepine therapy; his psychotic became clinically evident provided limited efficacy. Blonanserin ineffective, ECT His were finally relieved by lithium monotherapy. Conclusions Catatonic common patients mood disorders, suggesting may be cases. Moreover, both symptoms, as it normalizes imbalances excitatory inhibitory systems the brain, underlies major psychosis. Cumulative evidence further needed validate our findings.