Abstract
Objectives: Tics have rarely been described in catatonia although tics are sudden and nonrhythmic variants of stereotypic or repetitive movement abnormalities that are considered cardinal symptoms of catatonia. We describe 2 men with tics and self-injurious behavior, who met criteria for catatonia. One patient met criteria for autism. Case Reports: We reported 2 new cases and performed a literature review using PubMed to identify other cases of tics that were treated with electroconvulsive therapy. Tics along with other catatonic symptoms and self-injurious behavior responded to electroconvulsive therapy in 2 men. Eight other patients with tics that were treated with electroconvulsive therapy were found in the literature. Catatonia was recognized in 4 of the 8 patients. Two patients met criteria for autism. Conclusions: Tics, with or without self-injurious behavior, may be signs of catatonia. Patients with tics or Tourette syndrome warrant assessment for catatonia. If catatonia is present, electroconvulsive therapy provides a safe but rarely used alternative to pharmacotherapy, psychosurgery, or invasive brain stimulation in the treatment of tics and Tourette syndrome.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 266-269 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of ECT |
Volume | 26 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2010 |
Keywords
- Tourette syndrome
- autism
- catatonia
- self-injurious behavior
- tics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience (miscellaneous)
- Psychiatry and Mental health