TY - INPR Y1 - 2023/03/03/ UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2023.02.022 ID - discovery10166862 N1 - © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) TI - Catatonia in the peripartum: A cohort study using electronic health records JF - Schizophrenia Research PB - Elsevier BV N2 - BACKGROUND: Due to limited existing literature available on the presentation and treatment of catatonia in the peripartum, this retrospective descriptive cohort study aimed to examine demographic data, catatonic features, diagnoses pre- and post-catatonic episodes, treatment and the presence of obstetric complications. METHODS: Individuals with catatonia were identified in a previous study using anonymised electronic healthcare records from a large mental health trust in South-East London. The presence of features from the Bush-Francis Catatonia Screening Instrument was coded by the investigators and longitudinal data were extracted from structured fields and free text. RESULTS: 21 individuals were identified from the larger cohort, each of whom experienced one episode of catatonia in the postpartum period, and all had had an inpatient psychiatric admission. 13 patients (62 %) presented after their first pregnancy and 12 (57 %) experienced obstetric complications. 11 (53 %) attempted breastfeeding and 10 (48 %) received a diagnosis of a depressive disorder following the episode of catatonia. The majority presented with immobility or stupor, mutism, staring and withdrawal. All were treated with antipsychotics and 19 (90 %) received benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that signs and symptoms of catatonia during the peripartum are similar to other catatonic presentations. However, the postpartum may be a period of high risk for catatonia and obstetric factors, such as birth complications, may be relevant. KW - Catatonia KW - Electroconvulsive therapy KW - Perinatal KW - Peripartum KW - Postnatal KW - Postpartum A1 - Delvi, Afraa A1 - Wilson, Claire A A1 - Jasani, Iman A1 - Guliani, Joshana A1 - Rao, Ranga A1 - Seneviratne, Gertrude A1 - Rogers, Jonathan P SN - 0920-9964 AV - public ER -