Catatonic Symptoms Associated With Tuberculous Lymphadenitis: a Case of Catatonia

Abstract

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that can occur due to medical or psychiatric disorder. Catatonia with a medical co-morbidity accounts for 30-80% of all catatonias. These conditions are various and include infections, metabolic disturbances, neurological disorders, drug intoxication and withdrawal. Identifying causes for catatonia is important not only to guide proper management but to determine prognostic outcomes. Tuberculous lymphadenitis is part of the extrapulmonary tuberculosis and is the most common form of the mycobacterial lymphadenitis group. Tuberculous lymphadenitis-induced catatonia has not been reported yet in the literature. We report the case of a patient who presented with catatonia and showed partial improvement with electroconvulsive therapy and complete recovery after treatment with anti-infective drugs. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2011; 48: 265-7)