Lethal Catatonia in the Right Middle Cerebral Artery Territory Infarction

ABSTRACT

Lethal catatonia is a rare and fatal clinical syndrome. It has diverse etiologies, both functional and organic. We experienced a man with left hemiplegia and striking catatonia. Brain imaging showed a large right hemispheric infarction and hypoperfusion. Symptoms and signs of catatonia were markedly improved after treatment of dopa-agonist and benzodiazepine. This case suggests that right hemispheric infarction could be a possible cause of lethal catatonia, and supports earlier clinical literature relating catatonia and the parietal lobe.