Assessing and Treating Catatonia

Topics: Amantadine | Ativan Challenge Test | Benzodiazepines | Bush-Francis Scale | Catatonia | lorazepam taper | mood disorders | neuroleptic malignant syndrome | retarded vs excited catatonia | Schizophrenia

CHPR: Welcome, Dr. Heckers. You recently published a review of the management of catatonia (Heckers S and Walther S, JAMA Psychiatry 2021;78(5):560–561). What is catatonia and how do you diagnose it? Dr. Heckers: Catatonia is a psychomotor syndrome. Some patients cannot move or respond normally. Patients often stare blankly, remain motionless for lon

How to Treat Tardive Dyskinesia

Topics: Amantadine | Austedo | Deutetrabenazine | Ginkgo | Ingrezza | Keppra | Levetiracetam | Melatonin | Psychopharmacology | Psychopharmacology Tips | Side Effects | Tardive dyskinesia | Valbenazine | Vitamin B6 | Vitamin E | VMAT2 Inhibitors

Your patient is a 56-year-old male who recovered from a difficult-to-treat depression 4 years ago after quetiapine was added to his citalopram. As he talks, you notice that his fingers are tapping in a rapid, random pattern and his feet are wiggling. When questioned, he explains, “I just do that when I’m anxious.” Should you stop the antipsychotic

Assessing and Treating Traumatic Brain Injury

Topics: Amantadine | Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) | Neurology | Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

TCPR: How does a head injury differ from a traumatic brain injury (TBI)? Dr. Silver: A head injury is not the same as a brain injury. Not all blows to the head result in an injury to the brain. TBI means there was an injury to the brain caused by the application of external force. That differentiates it from other kinds of brain injury, such as stroke