Diagnostic features of paediatric catatonia: multisite retrospective cohort study

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by psychomotor changes that can affect individuals across the lifespan. Although features of catatonia have been described in adults, the most common clinical symptoms among paediatric patients with catatonia are not well characterised. The goal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BJPsych open 2024-04, Vol.10 (3), p.e96-e96, Article e96
Main Authors: Smith, Joshua R., York, Tasia, Baldwin, Isaac, Fuchs, Catherine, Fricchione, Gregory, Luccarelli, James
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autism
Catatonia
Child and Adolescent
childhood experience
Cohort analysis
comorbidity
Demographics
Emotional disorders
epidemiology
Hospitals
Intellectual disabilities
Medical diagnosis
Mood disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Patients
Pediatrics
Psychosis
Schizophrenia
Statistical analysis
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Summary:Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by psychomotor changes that can affect individuals across the lifespan. Although features of catatonia have been described in adults, the most common clinical symptoms among paediatric patients with catatonia are not well characterised. The goal of this study was to characterise the symptoms of catatonia demonstrated by paediatric patients, and to explore demographic and diagnostic factors associated with greater catatonia severity. We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study, from 1 January 2018 to 6 January 2023, of patients aged 18 and younger with a clinical diagnosis of catatonia and symptom assessment using the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS). A total of 143 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age was 15 (interquartile range: 13-16) years and 66 (46.2%) patients were female. Neurodevelopmental disabilities were present in 55 (38.5%) patients. Patients demonstrated a mean of 6.0 ± 2.1 signs of catatonia on the Bush Francis Catatonia Screening Item, with a mean BFCRS score of 15.0 ± 5.9. Among the 23 items of the BFCRS, six were present in >50% of patients (staring, mutism, immobility/stupor, withdrawal, posturing/catalepsy, rigidity), and four were present in
ISSN:2056-4724
2056-4724
DOI:10.1192/bjo.2024.61