ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to understand and probably explain the variability in symptomatology particularly with presence of catatonic symptoms and treatment response to lorazepam in mania. Methods: 52 patients of bipolar disorder were selected from admitted patients in psychiatry ward from P.B.H. Hospital, Bikaner. Structural Clinical Interview for DSM IV patient version (SCID-P) item Young Mania Rating Scale, 23 item Bush Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument and Rating Scale. 43 item Presumptive stressful Life Event Scale, were administered. Statistical tests were performed using SPSS version 9.0 were Pearson’s correlation Chi square analysis, test, ANOVA. Results: Only 3 patients out of 14 patients of first Manic episode showed good outcome. Patients with history of multiple episodes had shown better outcome (X2 = 11.59, df = 1, p < 0.00) The authors noted that the presence of catatonic symptoms (X2 = 17.76, df – 2, p < 0.001), high catatonic scores (F = 37.18, df = 2, 49, p < 0.000), and high reduction in catatonic score after Lorazepam challenge were associated with better outcome. There was strong negative correlation between index, catatonic and Mania Scores in grade I and grade II outcome category, (p < 0.000). Conclusions: This is a preliminary study to suggest that the presence of catatonic symptoms had better outcome in bipolar patients.