During the 20th century, catatonia all but dropped off the agenda of mainstream psychiatric research. However, several dedicated research groups, represented in this volume, continued to report original data highlighting catatonia as a relevant and ideal subject for clinical study.
This book, which exemplifies the unparalleled breadth of the knowledge gained, will benefit clinicians managing catatonic phenomena as well as researchers interested in pursuing further investigations. It covers in great detail the psychopathology and neurobiology of catatonia, focusing on the history, epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the disorder.
In addition to offering practical information for clinicians, Catatonia aims to stimulate new investigations. It includes a discussion of the genetics of catatonia as well as descriptions of little-known animal models useful for research on the disorder. Catatonia is uniquely suited for neuropsychiatric research: it is objectively observable, and responds dramatically to specific treatments. Promising and testable etiologic hypotheses have been proposed and may shed light on mechanisms underlying endogenous psychoses.
Clinical discussions are presented in the context of neurobiological findings, highlighting the richness and intellectual attraction of the study of the disorder. A wide range of opinions and work is presented by the original investigators, and disagreements over treatment and the nosologic status of the disorder are addressed head-on.
Catatonia is unique in offering a diverse, international group of contributors and such a comprehensive, up-to-date review of the clinical and scientific literature, spanning the breadth of contemporary understanding about the nature, meaning, and importance of the syndrome.
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