The Experts below are selected from a list of 2397 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Gabor S. Ungvari - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features a selective review
Schizophrenia Research, 2017Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, Jozsef Gerevich, Rozalia Takacs, Gabor GazdagAbstract:A widely accepted consensus holds that a variety of motor symptoms subsumed under the term 'Catatonia' have been an integral part of the symptomatology of schizophrenia since 1896, when Kraepelin proposed the concept of dementia praecox (schizophrenia). Until recently, psychiatric classifications included catatonic schizophrenia mainly through tradition, without compelling evidence of its validity as a schizophrenia subtype. This selective review briefly summarizes the history, psychopathology, demographic and epidemiological data, and treatment options for schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features. Although most catatonic signs and symptoms are easy to observe and measure, the lack of conceptual clarity of Catatonia and consensus about the threshold and criteria for its diagnosis have hampered our understanding of how Catatonia contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenic psychoses. Diverse study samples and methodologies have further hindered research on schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features. A focus on the motor aspects of broadly defined schizophrenia using modern methods of detecting and quantifying catatonic signs and symptoms coupled with sophisticated neuroimaging techniques offers a new approach to research in this long-overlooked field.
-
the Catatonia conundrum evidence of psychomotor phenomena as a symptom dimension in psychotic disorders
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2010Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, Stanley N. Caroff, Jozsef GerevichAbstract:To provide a rational basis for reconceptualizing Catatonia in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), we briefly review historical sources, the psychopathology of Catatonia, and the relevance of catatonic schizophrenia in contemporary practice and research. In contrast to Kahlbaum, Kraepelin and others (Jaspers, Kleist, and Schneider) recognized the prevalence of motor symptoms in diverse psychiatric disorders but concluded that the unique pattern and persistence of certain psychomotor phenomena defined a "catatonic" subtype of schizophrenia, based on intensive long-term studies. The enduring controversy and confusion that ensued underscores the fact that the main problem with Catatonia is not just its place in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders but rather its lack of conceptual clarity. There still are no accepted principles on what makes a symptom catatonic and no consensus on which signs and symptoms constitute a catatonic syndrome. The resulting heterogeneity is reflected in treatment studies that show that stuporous Catatonia in any acute disorder responds to benzodiazepines or electroconvulsive therapy, whereas Catatonia in the context of chronic schizophrenia is phenomenologically different and less responsive to either modality. Although psychomotor phenomena are an intrinsic feature of acute and especially chronic schizophrenia, they are insufficiently recognized in practice and research but may have significant implications for treatment outcome and neurobiological studies. While devising a separate category of Catatonia as a nonspecific syndrome has heuristic value, it may be equally if not more important to re-examine the psychopathological basis for defining psychomotor symptoms as catatonic and to re-establish psychomotor phenomena as a fundamental symptom dimension or criterion for both psychotic and mood disorders.
-
Amineptine treatment of persistent catatonic symptoms in schizophrenia: a controlled study.
Neuropsychopharmacologia Hungarica : a Magyar Pszichofarmakologiai Egyesulet lapja = official journal of the Hungarian Association of Psychopharmacolo, 2010Co-Authors: Gabor S. UngvariAbstract:BACKGROUND: Data on the treatment response of enduring catatonic phenomena accompanying chronic schizophrenia are few and far between. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effects of add-on amineptine, a dopamine agonist antidepressant in chronic Catatonia occurring in schizophrenia. METHOD: Fifteen subjects with DSM-IV schizophrenia presenting with persistent catatonic features underwent a 15-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial; they were treated for 6 weeks each with amineptine and a placebo, with a 3-week wash-out period in between. The primary outcome measures were the sum scores of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale and the Modified Rogers Scale. Changes in other aspects of psychopathology and extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) constituted the secondary outcome measures. RESULTS: Amineptine augmentation of antipsychotic treatment had no appreciable effect on either of the Catatonia ratings. Apart from a statistically significant but clinically negligible improvement in the negative symptom scores, there were no changes in the psychopathology and EPS ratings. CONCLUSION: The lack of a therapeutic effect of the dopamine agonist amineptine on persistent catatonic signs and symptoms suggests that the dopamine system may not have a decisive role in the pathophysiology of chronic catatonic syndrome arising in the context of schizophrenia.
-
Schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features ('catatonic schizophrenia'). III. Latent class analysis of the catatonic syndrome
'Elsevier BV', 2009Co-Authors: Gerevich J, Gabor S. Ungvari, Goggins W, Sk Leung, Lee EAbstract:No reports have yet been published on Catatonia using latent class analysis (LCA). This study applied LCA to a large, diagnostically homogenous sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia who also presented with catatonic symptoms. A random sample of 225 Chinese inpatients with DSM-IV schizophrenia was selected from the long-stay wards of a psychiatric hospital. Their psychopathology, extrapyramidal motor status and level of functioning were evaluated with standardized rating scales. Catatonia was rated using a modified version of the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. LCA was then applied to the 178 patients who presented with at least one catatonic sign. In LCA a four-class solution was found to fit best the statistical model. Classes 1, 2, 3 and 4 constituted 18%, 39.4%, 20.1% and 22.5% of the whole catatonic sample, respectively. Class 1 included patients with symptoms of 'automatic' phenomena (automatic obedience, Mitgehen, waxy flexibility). Class 2 comprised patients with 'repetitive/echo' phenomena (perseveration, stereotypy, verbigeration, mannerisms and grimacing). Class 3 contained patients with symptoms of 'withdrawal' (immobility, mutism, posturing, staring and withdrawal). Class 4 consisted of 'agitated/resistive' patients, who displayed symptoms of excitement, impulsivity, negativism and combativeness. The symptom composition of these 4 classes was nearly identical with that of the four factors identified by factor analysis in the same cohort of subjects in an earlier study. In multivariate regression analysis, the 'withdrawn' class was associated with higher scores on the Scale of Assessment of Negative Symptoms and lower and higher scores for negative and positive items respectively on the Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation's (NOSIE). The 'automatic' class was associated with lower values on the Simpson-Angus Extrapyramidal Side Effects Scale, and the 'repetitive/echo' class with higher scores on the NOSIE positive items. These results provide preliminary support for the notion that chronic schizophrenia patients with catatonic features can be classified into 4 distinct syndromal groups on the basis of their motor symptoms. Identifying distinct catatonic syndromes would help to find their biological substrates and to develop specific therapeutic measures. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex
-
schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features catatonic schizophrenia ii factor analysis of the catatonic syndrome
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 2007Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, William B Goggins, Siukau Leung, Jozsef GerevichAbstract:Previous factor analyses of Catatonia have yielded conflicting results for several reasons including small and/or diagnostically heterogeneous samples and incomparability or lack of standardized assessment. This study examined the factor structure of Catatonia in a large, diagnostically homogenous sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia using standardized rating instruments. A random sample of 225 Chinese inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria were selected from the long-stay wards of a psychiatric hospital. They were assessed with a battery of rating scales measuring psychopathology, extrapyramidal motor status, and level of functioning. Catatonia was rated using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. Factor analysis using principal component analysis and Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization was performed. Four factors were identified with Eigenvalues of 3.27, 2.58, 2.28 and 1.88. The percentage of variance explained by each of the four factors was 15.9%, 12.0%, 11.8% and 10.2% respectively, and together they explained 49.9% of the total variance. Factor 1 loaded on "negative/withdrawn" phenomena, Factor 2 on "automatic" phenomena, Factor 3 on "repetitive/echo" phenomena and Factor 4 on "agitated/resistive" phenomena. In multivariate linear regression analysis negative symptoms and akinesia were associated with 'negative' catatonic symptoms, antipsychotic doses and atypical antipsychotics with 'automatic' symptoms, length of current admission, severity of psychopathology and younger age at onset with 'repetitive' symptoms and age, poor functioning and severity of psychopathology with 'agitated' catatonic symptom scores. The results support recent findings that four main factors underlie catatonic signs/symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.
Jozsef Gerevich - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features a selective review
Schizophrenia Research, 2017Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, Jozsef Gerevich, Rozalia Takacs, Gabor GazdagAbstract:A widely accepted consensus holds that a variety of motor symptoms subsumed under the term 'Catatonia' have been an integral part of the symptomatology of schizophrenia since 1896, when Kraepelin proposed the concept of dementia praecox (schizophrenia). Until recently, psychiatric classifications included catatonic schizophrenia mainly through tradition, without compelling evidence of its validity as a schizophrenia subtype. This selective review briefly summarizes the history, psychopathology, demographic and epidemiological data, and treatment options for schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features. Although most catatonic signs and symptoms are easy to observe and measure, the lack of conceptual clarity of Catatonia and consensus about the threshold and criteria for its diagnosis have hampered our understanding of how Catatonia contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenic psychoses. Diverse study samples and methodologies have further hindered research on schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features. A focus on the motor aspects of broadly defined schizophrenia using modern methods of detecting and quantifying catatonic signs and symptoms coupled with sophisticated neuroimaging techniques offers a new approach to research in this long-overlooked field.
-
the Catatonia conundrum evidence of psychomotor phenomena as a symptom dimension in psychotic disorders
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2010Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, Stanley N. Caroff, Jozsef GerevichAbstract:To provide a rational basis for reconceptualizing Catatonia in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition), we briefly review historical sources, the psychopathology of Catatonia, and the relevance of catatonic schizophrenia in contemporary practice and research. In contrast to Kahlbaum, Kraepelin and others (Jaspers, Kleist, and Schneider) recognized the prevalence of motor symptoms in diverse psychiatric disorders but concluded that the unique pattern and persistence of certain psychomotor phenomena defined a "catatonic" subtype of schizophrenia, based on intensive long-term studies. The enduring controversy and confusion that ensued underscores the fact that the main problem with Catatonia is not just its place in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders but rather its lack of conceptual clarity. There still are no accepted principles on what makes a symptom catatonic and no consensus on which signs and symptoms constitute a catatonic syndrome. The resulting heterogeneity is reflected in treatment studies that show that stuporous Catatonia in any acute disorder responds to benzodiazepines or electroconvulsive therapy, whereas Catatonia in the context of chronic schizophrenia is phenomenologically different and less responsive to either modality. Although psychomotor phenomena are an intrinsic feature of acute and especially chronic schizophrenia, they are insufficiently recognized in practice and research but may have significant implications for treatment outcome and neurobiological studies. While devising a separate category of Catatonia as a nonspecific syndrome has heuristic value, it may be equally if not more important to re-examine the psychopathological basis for defining psychomotor symptoms as catatonic and to re-establish psychomotor phenomena as a fundamental symptom dimension or criterion for both psychotic and mood disorders.
-
schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features catatonic schizophrenia ii factor analysis of the catatonic syndrome
Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, 2007Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, William B Goggins, Siukau Leung, Jozsef GerevichAbstract:Previous factor analyses of Catatonia have yielded conflicting results for several reasons including small and/or diagnostically heterogeneous samples and incomparability or lack of standardized assessment. This study examined the factor structure of Catatonia in a large, diagnostically homogenous sample of patients with chronic schizophrenia using standardized rating instruments. A random sample of 225 Chinese inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV criteria were selected from the long-stay wards of a psychiatric hospital. They were assessed with a battery of rating scales measuring psychopathology, extrapyramidal motor status, and level of functioning. Catatonia was rated using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. Factor analysis using principal component analysis and Varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization was performed. Four factors were identified with Eigenvalues of 3.27, 2.58, 2.28 and 1.88. The percentage of variance explained by each of the four factors was 15.9%, 12.0%, 11.8% and 10.2% respectively, and together they explained 49.9% of the total variance. Factor 1 loaded on "negative/withdrawn" phenomena, Factor 2 on "automatic" phenomena, Factor 3 on "repetitive/echo" phenomena and Factor 4 on "agitated/resistive" phenomena. In multivariate linear regression analysis negative symptoms and akinesia were associated with 'negative' catatonic symptoms, antipsychotic doses and atypical antipsychotics with 'automatic' symptoms, length of current admission, severity of psychopathology and younger age at onset with 'repetitive' symptoms and age, poor functioning and severity of psychopathology with 'agitated' catatonic symptom scores. The results support recent findings that four main factors underlie catatonic signs/symptoms in chronic schizophrenia.
Georg Northoff - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
multimodal magnetic resonance imaging data fusion reveals distinct patterns of abnormal brain structure and function in Catatonia
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2020Co-Authors: Dusan Hirjak, Georg Northoff, Mahmoud Rashidi, Katharina M Kubera, Stefan Fritze, Mike M Schmitgen, Fabio Sambataro, Vince D Calhoun, Robert Christian WolfAbstract:: Catatonia is a nosologically unspecific syndrome, which subsumes a plethora of mostly complex affective, motor, and behavioral phenomena. Although Catatonia frequently occurs in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), specific patterns of abnormal brain structure and function underlying Catatonia are unclear at present. Here, we used a multivariate data fusion technique for multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to investigate patterns of aberrant intrinsic neural activity (INA) and gray matter volume (GMV) in SSD patients with and without Catatonia. Resting-state functional MRI and structural MRI data were collected from 87 right-handed SSD patients. Catatonic symptoms were examined on the Northoff Catatonia Rating Scale (NCRS). A multivariate analysis approach was used to examine co-altered patterns of INA and GMV. Following a categorical approach, we found predominantly frontothalamic and corticostriatal abnormalities in SSD patients with Catatonia (NCRS total score ≥ 3; n = 24) when compared to SSD patients without Catatonia (NCRS total score = 0; n = 22) matched for age, gender, education, and medication. Corticostriatal network was associated with NCRS affective scores. Following a dimensional approach, 33 SSD patients with Catatonia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision were identified. NCRS behavioral scores were associated with a joint structural and functional system that predominantly included cerebellar and prefrontal/cortical motor regions. NCRS affective scores were associated with frontoparietal INA. This study provides novel neuromechanistic insights into Catatonia in SSD suggesting co-altered structure/function-interactions in neural systems subserving coordinated visuospatial functions and motor behavior.
-
Acid Concentrations in
2015Co-Authors: Georg Northoff, Lothar Demisch, Jens Wenke, Burkhard PflugAbstract:We investigated the dopamine metabolite plasma homovanillic acid (plasma HVA) levels in 37 catatonic patients on the day of admission before initial medication as well as in 17 healthy controls. In a prospective study catatonic syndrome was diagnosed according to criteria of Lohr and Wiesniwski (1987) and Rosebush et al (1990) whereas comorbid diagnosis was made by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed, revised (DSM Ill/R) (APA 1987). On the day of admission blood samples were taken before initial medication. Compared to controls (80.1 +- 40.1 pmol/mL) catatonic patients showed significantly (p = 0.0286) increased plasma HVA (140.9 + 53.6 pmol/mL). Catatonic patients free of neuroleptic medication (n = 21) differed significantly (p = O.0416) from controls whereas neuroleptically treated catatonics (n = 16) did not. Our findings of increased plasma HVA in Catatonia re explained by an alteration in either mesolimbic or mesocortical dopaminergic function, as is assumed in the case of schizophrenia. As an alternative, it may be due to increased nigrostriatal function, which can lead, as shown in animal experiments with the dopamine agonist amphetamine, to hypokinetic states resembling Catatonia in humans
-
lorazepam modulates orbitofrontal signal changes during emotional processing in Catatonia
Human Psychopharmacology-clinical and Experimental, 2010Co-Authors: Andre Richter, Simone Grimm, Georg NorthoffAbstract:Objective Catatonia is a psychomotor syndrome characterized by concomitant emotional, behavioural and motor symptoms. In many cases clinical symptoms disappear almost immediately with administration of lorazepam, which acts on GABAA receptors. Methods Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) we investigated prefrontal activation patterns during emotion processing in catatonic patients with and without lorazepam in a double-blind study design. For emotional stimulation the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) was used. BOLD-signals were determined using regions of interest (ROI) and were statistically compared between groups. Results For negative emotional pictures lorazepam induced higher signal decreases in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in catatonic patients than in healthy subjects resulting in a regularization of activity patterns comparable to healthy subjects with placebo. Conclusions Results indicate disturbances in the functioning of OFC in Catatonia. GABAergic modified emotion regulation with decreased inhibition of affective stimuli could lead to the intense emotions reported by many catatonic patients. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
-
Catatonia as a psychomotor syndrome a rating scale and extrapyramidal motor symptoms
Movement Disorders, 1999Co-Authors: Georg Northoff, Andreas Koch, J Wenke, Joachim Eckert, Heinz Boker, B Pflug, Bernhard BogertsAbstract:BACKGROUND Catatonia was first described by Kahlbaum as a psychomotor disease with motor, behavioral, and affective symptoms. In keeping with this concept, we developed a rating scale for Catatonia (Northoff Catatonia Scale [NCS]) with three different categories of symptoms (i.e., motor, behavioral, affective). Furthermore, the question of the relationship among catatonic symptoms, extrapyramidal motor symptoms, and neuroleptics was addressed in the present study. METHOD 34 acute catatonic patients and 68 age-, sex-, diagnosis-, and medication-matched psychiatric control subjects were investigated on days 0, 1, 3, 7, and 21 with the NCS, with other already validated Catatonia rating scales by Rosebush, Bush (BFCRS), and Rogers (MRS), as well as with scales for hypokinetic (SEPS) and dyskinetic (AIMS) extrapyramidal motor features. Validity and reliability of the new scale, factor analysis, correlational analysis, and differences between catatonic patients and psychiatric control subjects were statistically calculated. RESULTS NCS showed high validity (i.e., significant positive correlations [p <0.0001] with the other scales, significant differences between catatonic and control subjects), high intra- and interrater reliabilities (r = 0.80–0.96), and high affective subscores. Factor analysis revealed four factors best characterized as affective, hypoactive, hyperactive, and behavioral. Catatonic scores in NCS correlated significantly with AIMS on day 0 and SEPS on days 7 and 21. There were no significant differences in catatonic (i.e., NCS, MRS, BFCRS) and extrapyramidal (i.e., AIMS, SEPS) scores between neuroleptically treated and untreated catatonic subjects. CONCLUSIONS The following conclusions were drawn: (1) the NCS has to be considered as a valid and reliable rating instrument for Catatonia; (2) Catatonia can be characterized by psychomotor symptoms encompassing motor, affective, and behavioral alterations; and (3) extrapyramidal hyperkinesias like dyskinesias are apparently closely related to catatonic symptoms which, in general, seem to be relatively independent of previous neuroleptic medication.
-
plasma homovanillic acid concentrations in Catatonia
Biological Psychiatry, 1996Co-Authors: Georg Northoff, J Wenke, Lothar Demisch, B PflugAbstract:We investigated the dopamine metabolite plasma homovanillic acid (plasma HVA) levels in 37 catatonic patients on the day of admission before initial medication as well as in 17 healthy controls. In a prospective study catatonic syndrome was diagnosed according to criteria of Lohr and Wiesniwski (1987) and Rosebush et al (1990) whereas comorbid diagnosis was made by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd ed, revised (DSM III/R) (APA 1987). On the day of admission blood samples were taken before initial medication. Compared to controls (80.1 ± 40.1 pmol/mL) catatonic patients showed significantly ( p = 0.0286) increased plasma HVA (140.9 ± 53.6 pmol/mL). Catatonic patients free of neuroleptic medication (n = 21) differed significantly ( p = 0.0416) from controls whereas neuroleptically treated catatonics ( n = 16) did not. Our findings of increased plasma HVA in Catatonia are explained by an alteration in either mesolimbic or mesocortical dopaminergic function, as is assumed in the case of schizophrenia. As an alternative, it may be due to increased nigrostriatal function, which can lead, as shown in animal experiments with the dopamine agonist amphetamine, to hypokinetic states resembling Catatonia in humans.
Robert Christian Wolf - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
multimodal magnetic resonance imaging data fusion reveals distinct patterns of abnormal brain structure and function in Catatonia
Schizophrenia Bulletin, 2020Co-Authors: Dusan Hirjak, Georg Northoff, Mahmoud Rashidi, Katharina M Kubera, Stefan Fritze, Mike M Schmitgen, Fabio Sambataro, Vince D Calhoun, Robert Christian WolfAbstract:: Catatonia is a nosologically unspecific syndrome, which subsumes a plethora of mostly complex affective, motor, and behavioral phenomena. Although Catatonia frequently occurs in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), specific patterns of abnormal brain structure and function underlying Catatonia are unclear at present. Here, we used a multivariate data fusion technique for multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to investigate patterns of aberrant intrinsic neural activity (INA) and gray matter volume (GMV) in SSD patients with and without Catatonia. Resting-state functional MRI and structural MRI data were collected from 87 right-handed SSD patients. Catatonic symptoms were examined on the Northoff Catatonia Rating Scale (NCRS). A multivariate analysis approach was used to examine co-altered patterns of INA and GMV. Following a categorical approach, we found predominantly frontothalamic and corticostriatal abnormalities in SSD patients with Catatonia (NCRS total score ≥ 3; n = 24) when compared to SSD patients without Catatonia (NCRS total score = 0; n = 22) matched for age, gender, education, and medication. Corticostriatal network was associated with NCRS affective scores. Following a dimensional approach, 33 SSD patients with Catatonia according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision were identified. NCRS behavioral scores were associated with a joint structural and functional system that predominantly included cerebellar and prefrontal/cortical motor regions. NCRS affective scores were associated with frontoparietal INA. This study provides novel neuromechanistic insights into Catatonia in SSD suggesting co-altered structure/function-interactions in neural systems subserving coordinated visuospatial functions and motor behavior.
Gabor Gazdag - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features a selective review
Schizophrenia Research, 2017Co-Authors: Gabor S. Ungvari, Jozsef Gerevich, Rozalia Takacs, Gabor GazdagAbstract:A widely accepted consensus holds that a variety of motor symptoms subsumed under the term 'Catatonia' have been an integral part of the symptomatology of schizophrenia since 1896, when Kraepelin proposed the concept of dementia praecox (schizophrenia). Until recently, psychiatric classifications included catatonic schizophrenia mainly through tradition, without compelling evidence of its validity as a schizophrenia subtype. This selective review briefly summarizes the history, psychopathology, demographic and epidemiological data, and treatment options for schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features. Although most catatonic signs and symptoms are easy to observe and measure, the lack of conceptual clarity of Catatonia and consensus about the threshold and criteria for its diagnosis have hampered our understanding of how Catatonia contributes to the pathophysiology of schizophrenic psychoses. Diverse study samples and methodologies have further hindered research on schizophrenia with prominent catatonic features. A focus on the motor aspects of broadly defined schizophrenia using modern methods of detecting and quantifying catatonic signs and symptoms coupled with sophisticated neuroimaging techniques offers a new approach to research in this long-overlooked field.