Pediatric Catatonia

Pediatric catatonia is a syndrome with characteristic features, involving motor, speech, behavior, and autonomic dysregulation. It is usually associated with various medical, neurologic, and neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as medication toxicity or withdrawal. Imbalances in glutamatergic function, resulting in decreased γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) function, are one of the mechanisms supported by pharmacologic and imaging studies. Benzodiazepines enhance the effects of GABAA and are the first-line treatments in effectively treating catatonia in children and adults. Catatonia has significant morbidity and mortality; however, it often is unrecognized, especially in pediatric medical and psychiatric settings.