Lithium may cause toxicity as it has a narrow therapeutic range. Lithium
intoxication may manifest in the form of acute, acute on chronic and
chronic intoxication. Neurotoxicity is a common component of
chronic lithium intoxication and the symptoms include tremor, ataxia,
dysarthria, extrapyramidal symptoms, hyperreflexia, seizures and status
epilepticus. Although rare, catatonia could as a manifestation of lithium
neurotoxicity. In this report, we present a patient with bipolar disorder
presenting with catatonic symptoms secondary to lithium intoxication.
We will discuss the risk factors, differential diagnosis and the treatment
of catatonic symptoms. Lithium neurotoxicity may present with various
clinical symptoms including catatonia, and differential diagnosis should
be made well in such cases. If lithium neurotoxicity is suspected, rapid and
appropriate intervention is required to prevent permanent neurological
damage.
Keywords: Lithium, Neurotoxicity, Catatonia