Ethical dilemmas in the care of patients suffering from psychotic catatonia: a case report.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coercive measures in psychiatric practice are controversial due to their potential for severe negative effects. Ethical debates focus on respecting autonomy, minimizing damaging effects, and acting in the patient's best interest.

Case

We present a unique case of a young patient suffering from a first episode of catatonic psychosis, in which striking this balance was especially difficult given the patient's complete mutism and opposition, given the absence of immediate danger to herself or others, the lack of anamnestic information, and her avoidance of social support, which would have meant that she would not have encountered psychiatric care, were it not for an exceptional government plan in place at the time of hospitalization. The patient showed a very favorabl

SUBMITTER: Saccaro LF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11835877 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature