Overview

Catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor, affective and cognitive-behavioral symptoms, presenting significant challenges for both psychiatrists and neurologists. It occurs in 5–18% of patients in inpatient psychiatric units and in 3.3% of those in neurology or neuropsychiatric tertiary care inpatient settings. Despite its relatively high prevalence, catatonia is often underdiagnosed and inadequately treated, which can lead to substantial disadvantages for patients and may be associated with potentially life-threatening conditions. This comprehensive guide is designed to assist clinicians, researchers, and students in understanding and treating catatonia. It navigates through the history of the condition, exploring its phenomenology, clinical manifestations and pathophysiology, before delving into effective treatment strategies. By providing a clear and thorough overview, this guide simplifies the recognition of catatonia and promotes prompt and accurate treatment, encouraging future research endeavours in catatonia.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dusan Hirjak (Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany) ,  Georg Northoff (University of Ottawa)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Weight:   0.273kg
ISBN:  

9781009450959

ISBN 10:   1009450956
Pages:   174
Publication Date:   14 August 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
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Table of Contents

Foreword Gregory Fricchione; Foreword Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Historical origins of catatonia; 2. Different conceptual frameworks of catatonia; 3. Phenomenology and subjective experience of catatonia – clinical cases; 4. Epidemiology of catatonia; 5. Clinical manifestation, complexity of catatonic signs, differential diagnoses and potential somatic consequences; 6. Clinical, laboratory and neuroimaging assessments relevant for the diagnostic work-up of catatonia; 7. Management and treatment of catatonia; 8. Outcome and course of catatonia; 9. Most common neuroinflammatory origins of catatonia; 10. Brain networks underlying catatonia; 11. Breaking new ground: novel approaches to understanding catatonia and the brain-mind relationship; Index.

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Author Information

Dr. Dusan Hirjak, MD, is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and clinician-scientist, who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and research of catatonia. Bridging clinical practice and scientific inquiry, Dr. Hirjak derives research questions from everyday patient care, employing cutting-edge methodologies to deepen understanding and improve therapeutic approaches for this complex neuropsychiatric condition. Georg Northoff, MD, Ph.D., FRCP, is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and philosopher who pioneers research on the brain-mind relationship, particularly in catatonia. His work explores how the brain generates mental phenomena like self and consciousness, driven by the question: 'why and how does the brain construct mental features?'

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