Naxolone in amylobarbitone-responsive catatonia

A single-blind study of naxolone administration in a 25-year-old man who had catatonia is described. The patient was told that intravenous medication would be given in an effort to help him talk with his doctors. First saline was administered; the patient showed no response. Next, 20 mg of naxolone was given intravenous. Approximately 10 minutes after naxolone administration ceased, intravenous sodium amylobarbitone was begun. The patient responded dramatically by initiating conversation with his doctors. He appeared animated, answered numerous questions in detail, and stated that he had remained immobile for fear that he might fall and injure himself. This case study suggests that in barbiturate-response stuporose catatonia the catatonic state is not caused by increased amounts of central β-endorphin.