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Catatonia in a child with autistic disorder
Hasan Bozkurt1, Nahit Motavalli Mukaddes
1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
|November 4, 2010
Summary
Catatonia, a motor disorder, is increasingly seen in children with autism. This case study shows effective lorazepam treatment for an 11-year-old verbal child with autism experiencing catatonia.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Catatonia presents with motor symptoms across various psychiatric conditions.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by social interaction deficits, communication challenges, and restricted behaviors.
- The presentation and treatment of catatonia in autistic children remain under-researched.
Observation:
- An 11-year-old child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder developed catatonic symptoms.
- This case exhibited all DSM-IV defined catatonic features, with an unusual age of onset.
- Unlike typical reports, the child was verbally active and not socially passive.
Findings:
- The child's catatonic symptoms were effectively managed with lorazepam.
- This case highlights that catatonia can manifest in verbally active autistic children.
- The treatment response suggests lorazepam's efficacy in pediatric autism-related catatonia.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of catatonia presentation in autism spectrum disorder.
- It underscores the importance of recognizing and treating catatonia in autistic children, regardless of verbal ability.
- Effective pharmacological intervention with lorazepam offers a potential treatment avenue for this population.
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