ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: We report a case of an adolescent female experiencing benzodiazepine and single-stimulation electroconvulsive (ECT)-refractory malignant catatonia, who improved with the use multiple monitored ECT (mmECT). Per the 2001 American Psychiatric Association guidelines, mmECT should be considered only in cases of intractable seizures or neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Since 2001, neuroleptic malignant syndrome and malignant catatonia have been described as occurring along the same spectrum of illness. Therefore, given the life-threatening nature of her condition, as well as the brief seizure duration she experienced from single-stimulation ECT, the patient was treated with en-bloc and 2-stimulation mmECT. The patient demonstrated a significant improvement in response to this treatment, with her Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale score decreasing by 89%. At 2-year follow-up in an outpatient neurodevelopmental catatonia clinic, the patient has been able to return to school in her previous advanced placement classes and has not required maintenance ECT.
ABSTRACT
In this Letter to the Editor, we present a case of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome that was diagnosed in an adolescent girl after the onset of acute catatonic symptoms. We discuss the challenges in diagnosing catatonia in children and patients with comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), especially in the setting of recent traumatic exposure. We then review treatment strategies in this patient population and conclude with our recommendations regarding genetic workup in acute catatonia. The patient and guardians have reviewed this article and provided informed consent for its publication. In addition, the authors used the CARE guidelines and checklist in writing this report (Supplement 1, available online).
