High rates of catatonia seen in adolescents with ASD

A study by researchers in Turkey indicates that teens with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have a high rate of catatonia.

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric disorder causing symptoms that include slowed movements; freezing during actions, or becoming locked in postures; reductions in speech, or even muteness; increases in repetitive behaviors; and increased difficulty in starting or inhibiting actions. Previous research has suggested that catatonia occurs in around 6% to 20% of individuals with ASD, but the condition can be difficult to diagnose because people with ASD often experience a gradual rather than a sudden onset of catatonia symptoms.

In the new study, Esra Yurumez and colleagues evaluated data gathered from parental assessments of 48 adolescents with ASD, looking for subtle signs of catatonia. The researchers report, “The presence of catatonia was detected in 18 out of 48 (37.5%) participants according to the BCRS [Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale], and in 16 cases (35.4 %) according to DSM-5 [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition] criteria.” They add, “In the group with mild impairment in functionality, two cases had catatonia (12.5 %), while in the group with more impaired functionality, 16 cases (50 %) had catatonia according to BCRS.” Major mood disorders and stereotypic movements correlated with the presence of catatonia.

Noting that catatonia is treatable, the researchers conclude, “These results emphasize the importance of the awareness and knowledge of clinicians for catatonia diagnosis among children and adolescents with ASD.”

Citations

“Catatonia in autism spectrum disorders: prevalence, functional impact, and diagnostic insights,” Esra Yurumez, Rahime Duygu Temelturk, Banu Kaymak, Yağmur Özgür Karabıyıkoğlu, and Nisa Didem Zengin, Psychiatry Research, December 2024 (online). Address: Rahime Duygu Temelturk, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey, 06620, [email protected].