Catatonia in Nodding Syndrome and Lorazepam Treatment

Summary

Nodding Syndrome is an enigmatic neuropsychiatric syndrome affecting children and adolescents mostly in Eastern Africa. The symptoms of Nodding Syndrome and catatonia seem to overlap. The researchers' objectives in this study were to investigate the presence and types of catatonic symptoms in children with Nodding Syndrome and observe their response to one or two doses of lorazepam, the first-line treatment for catatonia.

Timeline

Start

2013-03

Primary completion

2013-03

Completion

2013-03

Publications

• Background Smith SL, Grelotti DJ, Fils-Aime R, Uwimana E, Ndikubwimana JS, Therosme T, Severe J, Dushimiyimana D, Uwamariya C, Bienvenu R, Alcindor Y, Eustache E, Raviola GJ, Fricchione GL. Catatonia in resource-limited settings: a case series and treatment protocol. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2015 Jan-Feb;37(1):89-93. doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2014.10.009. Epub 2014 Oct 30.
• Background Tibrewal P, Narayanaswamy J, Zutshi A, Srinivasaraju R, Math SB. Response rate of lorazepam in catatonia: a developing country's perspective. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Dec 1;34(8):1520-2. doi: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.08.017. Epub 2010 Sep 8.
• Background Kakooza-Mwesige A, Wachtel LE, Dhossche DM. Catatonia in autism: implications across the life span. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2008 Sep;17(6):327-35. doi: 10.1007/s00787-008-0676-x. Epub 2008 Apr 21.
• Background Sejvar JJ, Kakooza AM, Foltz JL, Makumbi I, Atai-Omoruto AD, Malimbo M, Ndyomugyenyi R, Alexander LN, Abang B, Downing RG, Ehrenberg A, Guilliams K, Helmers S, Melstrom P, Olara D, Perlman S, Ratto J, Trevathan E, Winkler AS, Dowell SF, Lwamafa D. Clinical, neurological, and electrophysiological features of nodding syndrome in Kitgum, Uganda: an observational case series. Lancet Neurol. 2013 Feb;12(2):166-74. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70321-6. Epub 2013 Jan 8.
• Background Dhossche DM. Decalogue of catatonia in autism spectrum disorders. Front Psychiatry. 2014 Nov 6;5:157. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00157. eCollection 2014. No abstract available.
• Kakooza-Mwesige A, Dhossche DM, Idro R, Akena D, Nalugya J, Opar BT. Catatonia in Ugandan children with nodding syndrome and effects of treatment with lorazepam: a pilot study. BMC Res Notes. 2015 Dec 28;8:825. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1805-5.

Drugs

Indications