A Cautionary Tale of Antidepressant in the COVID-19 Era: A Case Report of Vortioxetine-Induced Catatonia

Abstract

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, antidepressant prescriptions increased by 18.6%, clearly leading to proportionally increased chances of side effects due to medication exposure. Catatonia is a complex and heterogeneous neuropsychiatric syndrome manifesting up to 40 different signs and symptoms that were categorized into 4 groups, including pure motor, volition disturbance, disinhibited complex motor activities, and autonomic instability. The prevalence of catatonia ranges from 7.6% to 38% in patients presenting with acute psychiatric symptomatology. Though most often associated with psychiatric disorders, it is critical to rule out other medical etiologies. The literature reveals catatonia may manifest in several medical conditions and medications have been implicated in the pathophysiology of catatonia. We present a case of possible vortioxetine-induced catatonia in a patient with a history of schizoaffective disorder bipolar type. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2023;53(5):224–227.]