The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2010 , Vol 52 , Num 4
Catatonia in a child with autistic disorder
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
Catatonia is a cluster of motor features that appears in many recognized
psychiatric illnesses. It is being increasingly reported in individuals with
autism, a disorder characterized by impaired reciprocal social interactions,
aberrant language development and restricted behavioral repertoire. However,
relatively little is known about the presentation and treatment of catatonia in
children with autism. We describe herein an 11-year-old pediatric case with
autism who developed catatonic symptoms and was treated effectively with
lorazepam. The case reported here differs from previously reported cases in
terms of age of onset and the display of all characteristics of catatonia as
defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th
ed) (DSM-IV). In addition, although it was stated that catatonia in autism
is commonly associated with impaired language and social passivity, our case
is an active verbal individual.
Keywords :
catatonia, children, autism, lorazepam.