Psychogenic catatonia with elevated creatine kinase and autonomic hyperactivity.

A case is presented in which a young man with no psychiatric history and no previous exposure to psychotropic medication rapidly developed severe catatonia and autonomic hyperactivity, and an elevated creatine kinase level. He was treated with electroconvulsive therapy and recovered completely. This case suggests that a subgroup of patients who presented with symptoms resembling those of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and who have been treated with neuroleptics may suffer from severe psychogenic catatonia.