OBJECTIVE The lorazepam-diazepam protocol had been proved to rapidly and effectively relieve catatonia in patients with schizophrenia or mood disorder. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of lorazepam-diazepam protocol in catatonia due to general medical conditions (GMC) and substance. METHOD Patients with catatonia that required psychiatric intervention in various settings of a medic...

In Sub-Saharan Africa, intrarectal diazepam is the first-line anticonvulsant mostly used in children. We aimed to assess this standard care against sublingual lorazepam, a medication potentially as effective and safe, but easier to administer. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the pediatric emergency departments of 9 hospitals. A total of 436 children aged 5 months to 10 years with...

Previous studies have shown that the perceptual integration of component motions distributed across space is inhibited whenever segmentation cues, such as line-ends, are salient. Herein, we investigate to what extent enhanced inhibition induced by lorazepam, a benzodiazepine facilitating the fixation of GABA on GABAA receptors, modifies the balance between motion integration and motion segmenta...

Objective: Little is known about lorazepam-quetiapine combination doses requirements for mania and mixed bipolar episodes despite frequent use. It was previously assumed that, by adding a benzodiazepine, antipsychotic dose could be lowered. The aim of the current study was to test this assumption and to evaluate dosage of lorazepam and quetiapine, when used together under routine clinical condi...

TOT states may be viewed as a temporary and reversible microamnesia. We investigated the effects of lorazepam on TOT states in response to general knowledge questions. The lorazepam participants produced more commission errors and more TOTs following commission errors than the placebo participants (although the rates did not change). The resolution of the TOTs was unimpaired by the drug. Neithe...

In a prospective open trial, 30 inpatients with catatonic signs were treated systematically with oral lorazepam (dosage ranging between 3 to 8 mg/d) for a period of 5 days and subsequently with ECT if lorazepam trial failed. Outcome was monitored quantitatively during the treatment phase with Bush-Francis catatonia rating scale. In 21 out of 30 patients (70%), catatonic signs resolved with lora...

BACKGROUND Catatonia has risks of severe morbidity and mortality and needs early treatment. In this study, we investigated more patients to discuss the efficacy of this treatment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar I disorder (BPI). METHODS During a period of 9 years, we identified 12 catatonic patients with mood disorder, with MDD (n = 10) and BPI (n = 2) in the emerg...

The benzodiazepine receptor ligand U-78875 [3-(5-cyclopro pyl-1,2, 4-oxadiazol-3-yl)-5-(1-methylethyl)imidazol(1, 5-a)quinoxalin-4(5H)-o-ne] was studied in rats trained to discriminate i.p. 1.0 mg/kg lorazepam, 1.0 mg/kg diazepam, or 10 mg/kg pentobarbital, and baboons trained to discriminate oral 1.8 mg/kg lorazepam or 10 mg/kg pentobarbital. U-78875 doses were 0.01 to 10 mg/kg i.p. in rats an...

BACKGROUND Publications on the use of the bispectral index for sedation monitoring in the intensive care unit are increasing. However, few studies have involved correlation of bispectral index with serum drug concentrations. OBJECTIVES To assess the degree of correlation between bispectral index values, scores on the Sedation-Agitation Scale, and steady-state serum concentrations of lorazepam...