Review of adjunctive glutamate antagonist therapy in the treatment of catatonic syndromes

Authors

Brendan T. Carroll, University of Cincinnati
Harold W. Goforth, Duke University Medical Center
Christopher Thomas, University of Cincinnati
Niraj Ahuja, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
William W. McDaniel, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Marilyn F. Kraus, University of Illinois at Chicago
David R. Spiegel, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Kathleen N. Franco, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Leopold Pozuelo, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Camilo Muñoz, Campo de Mayo

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-2007

Journal

Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences

Volume

19

Issue

4

DOI

10.1176/jnp.2007.19.4.406

Abstract

Catatonia is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome which may arise from GABA-A hypoactivity, dopamine (D2) hypoactivity, and possibly glu-tamate NMDA hyperactivity. Amantadine and memantine have been reported as effective treatments for catatonia in selected cases, and probably mediate the presence of catatonic signs and symptoms through complex pathways involving glutamate antagonism. The authors identified 25 cases of catatonia treated with either agent. This article provides indirect evidence that glutamate antagonists may improve catatonic signs in some patients who fail to respond to established treatment, including lorazepam or electroconvulsive therapy. Further study of glutamate antagonists in the treatment of catatonia is needed. Copyright © 2007 American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.

APA Citation

Carroll, B., Goforth, H., Thomas, C., Ahuja, N., McDaniel, W., Kraus, M., Spiegel, D., Franco, K., Pozuelo, L., & Muñoz, C. (2007). Review of adjunctive glutamate antagonist therapy in the treatment of catatonic syndromes. Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 19 (4). http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/jnp.2007.19.4.406