Catatonia and Cavum Septum Pellucidum: New Case Report

Out on PubMed, from clinicians in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is this case report:



Genesis of Mental Disorders: Could It Be Cavum Septum Pellucidum (CSP) et Vergae? A Case Report of CSP in Schizophrenia with Catatonia.

Zuckerberg A, Pothen N, Fitzsimmons A.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2024 Mar 1;21(1-3):63-65. eCollection 2024 Jan-Mar.PMID: 38495604


The abstract is copied below:

In our case report, a 29-year-old male patient with a known history of schizophrenia presented with altered mental status and catatonia and was found to have an enlarged (21mm) cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). He was subsequently treated with escitalopram, olanzapine, methylphenidate, lorazepam, and eight electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments during his hospital course, after which his catatonia improved. We compared this to other cases in which a large CSP was identified and discussed the possibility of increased susceptibility to psychosis, specifically catatonia, which might be associated with this developmental anomaly.

Keywords: CSP; Cavum septum pellucidum; ECT; brain maturation and development; catatonia; electroconvulsive therapy; movement disorders; psychosis; schizophrenia.

The report is here.

And here:





This case report is blog-worthy in that it documents another case of catatonia successfully treated with ECT. No surprises here; the association between cavum septum pellicidum and psychosis is well known. These authors say something about mass effect as the connection, but I think it has more to do with developmental brain abnormalities in schizophrenia. The ECT is incompletely described (? electrode placement) and the use of ultrabrief pulse stimuli in an urgently ill patient is questionable. Finally, the delay of 6 months, due to the inaccessibility of ECT, is noteworthy. 


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