Articles
Case Series: Catatonic Syndrome in Young People

https://doi.org/10.1097/00004583-199908000-00021Get rights and content

ABSTRACT

This article reviews all recent (1977–1997) reports on catatonic adolescents and summarizes the 9 consecutive cases seen at the authors' institution during the past 6 years. Catatonia occurs Infrequently in adolescents (0.6% of the inpatient population), but it appears to be a severe syndrome in adolescents of both sexes. Diagnoses associated with catatonia are diverse, including in this series: schizophrenia (n = 6), psychotic depression (n = 1), mania (n = 1), and schizophreniform disorder (n = 1). Two patients had a previous history of pervasive developmental disorder. In the literature, catatonia was also reported in children with organic condition (e.g., epilepsy, encephalitis). Therapeutic management depends on the specific causes, but several points need to be stressed: (1) the frequency of neuroleptic-induced adverse effects; (2) the potential efficacy of sedative drugs on motor signs; (3) the possible use of electroconvulsive therapy; and (4) the necessity to manage family reactions and fears, which are frequent causes of noncooperation. It is concluded that catatonia is an intrequent but severe condition in young people. While symptomatology, etiologies, complications, and treatment are similar to those reported in the adult literature, findings differ with regard to the female-male ratio and the relative frequencies of associated mental disorders. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 1999, 38(8):1040–1046.

REFERENCES (38)

  • MP Barnes et al.

    The syndrome of Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum

    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry

    (1986)
  • DW Black et al.

    The use of ECT in children: case report

    J Clin Psychiatry

    (1985)
  • G Bush et al.

    Catatonia, I: rating scale and standardized examination

    Acta Psychiatr Scand

    (1996)
  • D Cohen et al.

    Cotard's syndrome in a 15 yearold girl

    Acta Psychiatr Scand

    (1997)
  • D Cohen et al.

    Use of electroconvulsive therapy in adolescents

    Convulsive Ther

    (1997)
  • EJB Davis et al.

    Wilson's disease and catatonia

    Br J Psychiatry

    (1993)
  • Ey H (1950), Etudes psychiatriques. Paris: Désclée de Brouwer &...
  • GL Fricchione et al.

    Intravenous lorazepam in neuroleptic induced catatonia

    J Clin Psychopharmacol

    (1983)
  • LB Guttmacher et al.

    Electroconvulsive therapy in one child and three adolescents

    J Clin Psychiatry

    (1988)
  • Cited by (100)

    • Pediatric Catatonia

      2018, Complex Disorders in Pediatric Psychiatry: A Clinician's Guide
    View all citing articles on Scopus

    The authors thank Judith L. Rapoport, M.D., for her helpful comments on the manuscript, and Michèle Koenig, M.D., for her help in writing it.

    View full text