The differential diagnosis of catatonic states

Catatonic states do not always signify schizophrenia. Catalepsy, mutism, stereotypy, muscular rigidity, and other signs of catatonia may reflect drug overdose, an acute delirium, or the subacute stage of viral encephalitis. The misdiagnosis of an underlying medical condition as a psychiatric disorder can have fatal results. A mental status examination, a thorough neurologic evaluation, and appropriate laboratory and cerebrospinal fluid tests may be necessary to identify the cause of the catatonic condition.