Catatonia is a syndrome of motor and psychological disturbances, which is accompanied by blood stasis that increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The aim of this study was to examine the incidence of DVT in catatonic patients in comparison to that in non-catatonic physically restrained patients. We conducted a chart review of involuntarily hospitalized patients from 2010 to 2013 at Sakuragaoka Memorial Hospital in Japan. Routine screening of DVT has been conducted for catatonic patients and restrained patients in this hospital. Catatonic patients were identified based on descriptions of charts and sorted to two subtypes (i.e. retarded and excited forms). A Doppler ultrasound scanning was performed to examine the presence of DVT. The incidence of DVT was compared among retarded and excited catatonic patients and non-catatonic restrained patients. There were 79 catatonic patients, of whom 42 were retarded. The incidence of DVT was 25.3% (20/79) in the catatonic patients. The retarded catatonic patients demonstrated a significantly higher incidence rate than the restrained non-catatonic patients (35.7% [15/42] vs. 10.6% [31/272], adjusted OR, 4.47). The incidence of DVT in catatonic patients, especially in the retarded form, was considerably high, which suggests the importance of prophylaxis of DVT.
Keywords: Catatonia; Deep vein thrombosis; Pulmonary embolism; Restraint.
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