Catatonia and neuroleptic malignant syndrome: psychopathology and pathophysiology

Catatonia was originally described as a psychomotor syndrome in the 19th century by Kahlbaum including motor, affective and behavioral symptoms. Later, at the beginning of the 20th century, catatonia was rather considered as the motoric manifestation of schizophrenia. Accordingly, neuropathological research focused predominantly on those neuroanatomical substrates, i.e. the basal ganglia being primarily involved in the generation of movements. Even though some authors observed minor alterations in the basal ganglia, consistent findings in these subcortical structures could not be obtained.