TY - JOUR
T1 - Lithium in the treatment of periodic catatonia
T2 - A case report
AU - Sovner, Robert D.
AU - Mohugh, Paul R.
PY - 1974
Y1 - 1974
N2 - A case of periodic catatonia is described in which cyclical changes in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood pressure, and pulse rate were detected and found to be positively correlated with the patient’s periodic episodes of catatonic behavior. Following the diagnostic study the patient was treated with lithium carbonate for 69 days. Although the drug did not influence the course of the illness, it did dissociate the periodic psychopathology from the metabolic concomitants, i.e., the BUN remained stable, there was no “adrenergic shift” with relapse, and the previously positive correlations did not occur. This is a hitherto unreported effect of lithium. Possible mechanisms of actions are discussed.
AB - A case of periodic catatonia is described in which cyclical changes in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), blood pressure, and pulse rate were detected and found to be positively correlated with the patient’s periodic episodes of catatonic behavior. Following the diagnostic study the patient was treated with lithium carbonate for 69 days. Although the drug did not influence the course of the illness, it did dissociate the periodic psychopathology from the metabolic concomitants, i.e., the BUN remained stable, there was no “adrenergic shift” with relapse, and the previously positive correlations did not occur. This is a hitherto unreported effect of lithium. Possible mechanisms of actions are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1097/00005053-197403000-00007
DO - 10.1097/00005053-197403000-00007
M3 - Article
C2 - 4815670
AN - SCOPUS:0015966680
SN - 0022-3018
VL - 158
SP - 214
EP - 221
JO - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
JF - Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
IS - 3
ER -