Electroconvulsive Treatment for Catatonia in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Nisha Withane; Dirk M Dhossche

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2018.07.006

Electroconvulsive Treatment for Catatonia in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2019 Jan;28(1):101-110. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.07.006. Epub 2018 Aug 28.

Authors

Nisha Withane¹, Dirk M Dhossche²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, 200 Retreat Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106, USA.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA. Electronic address: dirkdhossche@gmail.com.

PMID: 30389070
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.07.006

Abstract

Catatonia has been increasingly recognized in people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Assessment, diagnosis, and treatments are reviewed and illustrated with 2 new case vignettes. The use of electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) is recommended in patients who fail to respond to medical treatments, including a trial of lorazepam or another benzodiazepine. The importance of maintenance ECT is discussed. There is an urgent need for prospective studies of catatonia in ASD and for controlled treatment trials.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Benzodiazepines; Catatonia; Electroconvulsive treatment (ECT).

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Psychiatry
Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy*
Benzodiazepines / administration & dosage
Catatonia / therapy*
Electroconvulsive Therapy*
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Lorazepam / administration & dosage

Substances

Hypnotics and Sedatives
Benzodiazepines
Lorazepam