ABSTRACT
Pediatric catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome. Benzodiazepines are standard first-line pharmacotherapy. When benzodiazepines do not provide relief of symptoms, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most proven effective therapy. However, the use of NMDA antagonists (amantadine and memantine) has been reported effective in adult patients as adjuncts and may provide an alternative treatment modality when ECT is not readily accessible. To the author's knowledge there are no prior case reports of memantine used in pediatric catatonia. This case demonstrates the safe use of memantine as an adjunctive agent in an adolescent with catatonia.
Subject(s)
Catatonia , Electroconvulsive Therapy , Adolescent , Humans , Amantadine/adverse effects , Benzodiazepines/adverse effects , Catatonia/drug therapy , Catatonia/diagnosis , Electroconvulsive Therapy/adverse effects , Memantine/adverse effectsSubject(s)
Emergency Medical Services , Medically Unexplained Symptoms , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Adolescent , Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis , Central Nervous System Agents/adverse effects , Child , Developmental Disabilities/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Mental Disorders/etiology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome/diagnosis , Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome/therapy , Primary Health Care , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Serotonin Syndrome/diagnosis , Serotonin Syndrome/therapy , Triage/methods , UncertaintySubject(s)
Emergency Medical Services/methods , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/therapy , Mental Health Services , Adolescent , Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use , Child , Combined Modality Therapy , Emergencies , Hospitalization , Humans , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Patient-Centered Care , Restraint, Physical/methods , Risk Factors , Suicidal Ideation , Suicide, Attempted/prevention & control , Tranquilizing Agents/therapeutic use , United States/epidemiologySubject(s)
Mental Disorders/therapy , Mental Health Services , Problem Behavior , Adolescent , Child , Emergencies , Female , Humans , Male , Mental HealthSubject(s)
Child Behavior Disorders/therapy , Mental Disorders/therapy , Problem Behavior , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Health , UncertaintyABSTRACT
Children with mental health problems are increasingly being evaluated and treated in pediatric clinical settings. This article focuses on the epidemiology, evaluation, and management of the 2 most common pediatric mental health emergencies, suicidal and homicidal/aggressive patients, as well as the equally challenging population of children with autism or other developmental disabilities.
Subject(s)
Emergency Medicine/methods , Emergency Service, Hospital , Mental Disorders/therapy , Pediatrics/methods , Adolescent , Autistic Disorder/therapy , Child , Developmental Disabilities/therapy , Female , Homicide/psychology , Humans , Male , Risk Assessment , Suicide/psychology , Violence/psychologyABSTRACT
Children with mental health problems are increasingly being evaluated and treated by both pediatric primary care and pediatric emergency physicians. This article focuses on the epidemiology, evaluation, and management of the 2 most common pediatric mental health emergencies, suicidal and homicidal/aggressive patients, as well as the equally challenging population of children with autism or other developmental disabilities.
