Case series explores antipsychotic use and outcomes in youth with neurodevelopmental disorders and catatonia.
Key Points
This research aims to analyze antipsychotic medication use in youth with neurodevelopmental disorders who present with catatonia and psychotic symptoms.
Retrospective chart review of 20 youth treated at Nationwide Children's Hospital from 2017 to 2025.
Patients included had documented neurodevelopmental disorders and catatonia diagnosed by child and adolescent psychiatrists.
Clinical Global Impressions ratings were assessed before and after the use of benzodiazepines and the first antipsychotic trial.
Catatonia course: acute in 5%, subacute in 55%, chronic/relapsing in 40%.
After benzodiazepine treatment, 75% had a Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score of ≤ 3; following the first antipsychotic trial, this dropped to 60%.
Electroconvulsive therapy was used in 60% of cases, with 25% experiencing 30-day readmission.