Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 July 2025
This chapter explores the diverse therapeutic approaches to catatonia, integrating insights from both national and international guidelines. The primary treatment typically include benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam and diazepam, which are widely recognized for their efficacy in alleviating catatonic symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remains a cornerstone for more severe, treatment-resistant and malignant cases (e.g. febrile catatonia), with recent evidence suggesting its effectiveness across various psychiatric populations, including children, adolescents, older adults, and patients with dementia. However, in cases of ultra-resistant catatonia – where up to 40% of patients do not respond to benzodiazepines or ECT – new treatment options such as intranasal esketamine are emerging, showing promise in cases unresponsive to conventional therapies. Additionally, treatments such as dopamine receptors antagonists and partial agonists (=antipsychotics) must be used with caution, particularly in cases of substance-induced catatonia, where they may exacerbate symptoms. Noninvasive brain stimulation techniques like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation are also gaining attention for their potential therapeutic benefits in catatonia, though further research is needed. Finally, the chapter underscores the importance of individualized treatment plans, carefully considering the underlying cause of catatonia to optimize outcomes and ensure the most effective intervention.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge-org.demo.remotlog.com is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.