Clinical neuropharmacology
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Clin Neuropharmacol · May 2006
Comparative StudyLorazepam and diazepam rapidly relieve catatonic features in major depression.
We have proved that a modified strategy (ie, lorazepam intramuscular injection [IMI] or diazepam intravenous drip [IVD] if lorazepam IMI fails) can rapidly relieve catatonic features in patients with schizophrenia. During a period of 3 years, we identified 7 major depressive patients with catatonic features in the emergency unit of a general hospital. ⋯ The total complete remission rate to lorazepam IMI within 2 hours was 6 (85.7%) per 7 patients, and the total complete remission rate to benzodiazepines (lorazepam IMI and diazepam IVD) within 1 day was 7 (100%) of all 7 patients. These results highly suggest that this modified strategy can also rapidly relieve catatonic features in major depression within 1 day and attain a high complete remission rate, even without electroconvulsive therapy.