Electroconvulsive Therapy for Malignant Catatonia in Adolescence

Abstract

Malignant catatonia is a severe form of catatonia which is acute in onset, and is systemically devastating, as it is associated with fever and autonomic instability. Although rarely described in children and adolescents, malignant catatonia should feature prominently in the differential diagnosis of acute pediatric encephalopathies, as it is a treatable syndrome. The case of a 17-year-old adolescent with sickle cell anemia is presented. The patient developed malignant catatonia and responded dramatically to electroconvulsive therapy.