Treatment of catatonia with electroconvulsive therapy in an 11-year-old girl.

OBJECTIVE

To report the case of an 11-year-old girl who presented with acute onset of psychotic symptoms with catatonic features treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

METHOD: Described herein is the case of an 11-year-old, prepubertal girl who represented with catatonic symptoms unresponsive to conventional medical treatment. After thorough clinical investigation and obtaining a second opinion we gained consent from her parents to perform ECT as a life saving procedure.

RESULTS

Six ECT treatments were administered with clinical improvement, the patient did develop hypomanic symptoms as a side-affect of ECT.

CONCLUSION

The patient exhibited potentially life-threatening self-harming behaviour secondary to catatonic and psychotic symptoms. Her behaviour and symptoms responded to ECT. The patient developed hypomania that responded to mood stabilization. ECT was a safe and effective treatment for catatonia in this prepubescent girl.