Moderate clinical improvement with maintenance ECT in a 17-year-old boy with intractable catatonic schizophrenia

Electroconvulsive therapy in children and adolescents in Europe-a systematic review of the literature complemented by expert information and guideline recommendations

The first documented pediatric use of Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) occurred in Europe in 1941. Since then, predominantly successful treatments and reasonable side effects have been reported in severely ill minors. Nevertheless, a shy reluctance determines the controversy about ECT in young patients. This study describes the use of ECT in children and adolescents in Europe. We systematically searched the literature concerning the practice of ECT in minors in all 53 European countries. In addition, we surveyed European experts about national practices and compared guidelines for ECT in minors. The search yielded 79 publications from 18 European countries, mainly from Western Europe, Israel, and Turkey. National data were available from eight countries. These showed an interestingly high relationship between the number of minors treated with ECT and the general use of ECT. No persistent deficits or deaths were reported. On the other hand, no randomized clinical trial was found, and many publications lacked relevant information. Accordingly, the appraisal of the evidence in the guidelines varies considerably. Experts from 13 European countries consistently reported infrequent and unsystematic use of ECT in minors. ECT has been used successfully in minors in Europe with reasonable complications and side effects. Adverse effects on the developing brain, as often suspected, have not been scientifically supported in eight decades. Nevertheless, the use of ECT in Europe is sparse and dependent on accidental circumstances. High-quality evidence is needed, as well as improved knowledge and training of child and adolescent psychiatrists.

Electroconvulsive therapy or clozapine for adolescents with treatment-resistant schizophrenia: an explorative analysis on symptom dimensions

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to compare pre-intervention patient characteristics and post-intervention outcomes in a naturalistic sample of adolescent inpatients with treatment-resistant psychotic symptoms who received either electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or clozapine.

METHODS

Data of adolescents with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder receiving ECT or clozapine were retrospectively collected from two tertiary-care psychiatry-teaching university hospitals. Subscale scores of the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) factors were calculated according to the five-factor solution. Baseline demographics, illness characteristics, and post-intervention outcomes were compared.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between patients receiving ECT (n = 13) and clozapine (n = 66) in terms of age, sex, and the duration of hospital stay. The ECT group more commonly had higher overall illness and aggression severity. Smoking was less frequent in the clozapine group. Baseline resistance/excitement symptom severity was significantly higher in the ECT group, while positive, negative, affect, disorganisation, and total symptom scores were not. Both interventions provided a significant reduction in PANSS scores with large effect sizes.

CONCLUSION

Both ECT and clozapine yielded high effectiveness rates in adolescents with treatment-resistant schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. Youth receiving ECT were generally more activated than those who received clozapine.

Electroconvulsive Therapy in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Current Literature and Guidelines

ABSTRACT

There is a lack of studies regarding the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in children and adolescents. In this study, we aimed to assess benefits and harms of ECT in children and adolescents with major psychiatric diseases. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed articles written in English regarding the use of ECT as treatment for major psychiatric diseases in children and adolescents. This study consists of 192 articles, mostly case studies (n = 50), reviews and overview articles (n = 52), and retrospective studies (n = 30). We present an overview of evidence for ECT in children and adolescents with mood disorders, catatonia, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, self-injurious behavior, and other indications. This article is also a summary of international guidelines regarding the use of ECT in children and adolescents. We evaluated the overall quality of evidence by using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations and found the overall level of evidence to be of low quality. There are no absolute contra indications for ECT in children and adolescents. Fears regarding cognitive dysfunction have not been reproduced in studies. Electroconvulsive therapy should be considered in severe, treatment-resistant mood disorders, catatonia, and schizophrenia, especially in older adolescents. High-quality studies are warranted to assess the efficacy of ECT, especially in these potentially life-threatening diseases.

Tracing diagnosis trajectories over millions of patients reveal an unexpected risk in schizophrenia

The identification of novel disease associations using big-data for patient care has had limited success. In this study, we created a longitudinal disease network of traced readmissions (disease trajectories), merging data from over 10.4 million inpatients through the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, which allowed the representation of disease progression mapping over 300 diseases. From these disease trajectories, we discovered an interesting association between schizophrenia and rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle disease (incidence < 1E-04) (relative risk, 2.21 [1.80-2.71, confidence interval = 0.95], P-value 9.54E-15). We validated this association by using independent electronic medical records from over 830,000 patients at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) medical center. A case review of 29 rhabdomyolysis incidents in schizophrenia patients at UCSF demonstrated that 62% are idiopathic, without the use of any drug known to lead to this adverse event, suggesting a warning to physicians to watch for this unexpected risk of schizophrenia. Large-scale analysis of disease trajectories can help physicians understand potential sequential events in their patients.

Experience, Knowledge, and Attitudes of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists in Belgium Toward Pediatric Electroconvulsive Therapy

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the present study was to ascertain the experience, knowledge, and attitudes of child and adolescent psychiatrists toward the use of ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) in children and adolescents in Belgium.

METHODS

A questionnaire was mailed to all the members of the Flemish and Walloon Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists.

RESULTS

Thirty-five percent (n = 151) of the psychiatrists responded to the questionnaire. Sixty-seven percent (n = 101) rated their knowledge about ECT in children and adolescents as nil or negligible. Only one percent (n = 2) estimated their knowledge to be advanced. Fifteen percent (n = 22) were aware of a minor treated with ECT. Ten (n = 16) and thirty-one percent (n = 47) believed that ECT is a safe treatment for children and adolescents, respectively. Only six percent (n = 10) would recommend ECT for a major psychiatric disorder in a child, whereas thirty-eight percent (n = 58) for an adolescent. Fifty-three percent (n = 71) regarded ECT as a treatment of last resort. A significant correlation was identified between knowledge and attitudes toward the use of ECT in minors. Respondents with some or advanced knowledge perceived ECT as a safer and a more effective treatment option than those with negligible knowledge. Most (91%, n = 138) of the child and adolescent psychiatrists are enthusiastic to learn more about the use of ECT in minors.

CONCLUSIONS

Flemish and Walloon child and adolescents psychiatrists have very little experience with using ECT in minors. They self-estimated their knowledge as negligible but are keen to learn more about this treatment option. The lack of knowledge likely explains the rare use of ECT in Belgium for children and adolescents with serious psychiatric disorders.

Chronic antipsychotic treatment differentially modulates protein kinase A- and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta-dependent signaling pathways, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors in nucleus accumbens of juvenile rats

BACKGROUND

Antipsychotics are developed to treat mental disorders in adults; however, the prescription (mostly "off-label") of antipsychotics for children/adolescents has been constantly increasing over years. The influences of antipsychotics on juveniles requires investigation to validate their clinic use. Antipsychotics mainly exert their effects via several receptors and signaling pathways.

AIMS

This study examined the effects of aripiprazole, olanzapine, and risperidone on selected signaling pathways, N-methyl-D-aspartate, and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors in juveniles.

METHODS

Rats were orally administered aripiprazole (1 mg/kg), olanzapine (1 mg/kg), risperidone (0.3 mg/kg), or vehicle three times/day from postnatal day 23 (±1 day) for three weeks. The effects of antipsychotics in the nucleus accumbens and caudate putamen were measured by Western blots.

RESULTS

In the nucleus accumbens, all three drugs differentially increased N-methyl-D-aspartate and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor expression. Additionally, all three antipsychotics differentially elevated the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, β-catenin, and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1. In the caudate putamen, olanzapine increased β-catenin phosphorylation; and aripiprazole and olanzapine elevated γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor levels. Correlation analysis indicated that antipsychotics might modulate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors via glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta-β-catenin signaling and/or cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1 activation.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that antipsychotics can affect protein kinase A- and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta-dependent signaling pathways in juveniles; and their modulation on N-methyl-D-aspartate and γ-aminobutyric acid A receptors is probably through glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta-β-catenin signaling and/or cAMP-responsive element-binding protein 1 activation.

Maintenance ECT in schizophrenia: A systematic review

Relapse after discontinuation of ECT is significant in patients with schizophrenia. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine use of M-ECT in schizophrenia to guide clinical decision making for relapse prevention in schizophrenia. We reviewed studies examining the role of continuation (C-ECT) and maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) in schizophrenia. Following PRISMA guidelines, we included randomized controlled trials, open label trials, retrospective chart reviews, case reports, and case series in this review. We evaluated adjunctive pharmacological regimens; ECT treatment parameters, including frequency, duration of continued treatment, electrode placement; clinical outcomes including cognitive side effects and relapse rates from included studies. Our findings suggest M-ECT could provide an effective form of relapse prevention in these patients and persistent cognitive side effects are minimal.

Memory Impairment Following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

PURPOSE

To evaluate memory impairment associated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)-antipsychotic (AP) combination in comparison to AP monotherapy in schizophrenia.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A systematic literature search of randomized controlled trial (RCTs) was performed.

FINDINGS

Eleven RCTs that compared ECT-AP combination (n = 508) with AP monotherapy (n = 510) were analyzed. ECT-AP combination was associated with greater impairment than AP monotherapy in (1) endpoint memory quotient (MQ) of the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS)-Revised at the end of the ECT course; and (2) picture recall, counting, recognition, and associative learning of the WMS. However, no group difference was found in MQ at 1 and 2 weeks post-ECT.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The ECT-AP combination was associated with greater transient memory impairment compared to AP monotherapy.

A qualitative study of experience of parents of adolescents who received ECT

AIM OF THIS STUDY

To evaluate the experience of parents of adolescents who received ECT for severe mental illness.

METHODOLOGY

Using qualitative methods, 6 parents of 5 adolescents were interviewed by using a self-designed semi-structured interview after the completion of ECT course. The clinicians involved in the ECT procedure, i.e., seeking informed consent and administration of ECT were not aware about the study. All the interviews were recorded and the content was analysed and themes were generated.

RESULTS

Parents of all the 5 adolescents expressed that their children were considered for ECT only after the patient had not responded to medication and were unmanageable. Prior to ECT the treating doctors did explain to them about the ECT procedure, they were given information booklet and they were not coerced to consent for ECT. Some of the parents reported that they had dilemma prior to giving consent and were scared prior to the first ECT. However, as the clinical condition of their children improved, they felt that ECT was a good treatment. Majority of the parents felt that ECT was delayed for their children. When asked about restriction in use of ECT in children and adolescents, the parents expressed that it is important for law makers to understand the distress of the parents,when their children are acutely ill. They expressed that decision of administration of ECT must be left to the family and the treating clinicians.

CONCLUSION

Parents of adolescents considered for ECT are generally satisfied with the treatment procedure.

Aripiprazole for the treatment of irritability and aggression in children and adolescents affected by autism spectrum disorders

INTRODUCTION

Aripiprazole is an atypical antipsychotic approved for the treatment of irritability and aggression in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years with autism spectrum disorder.

AREAS COVERED

This review will discuss the drug profile as well as available studies of aripiprazole in individuals with autism spectrum disorder as documented in prospective randomized controlled trials. Expert commentary: The heterogeneity of autism spectrum disorder has implications for assessing the effectiveness and safety of aripiprazole as it may not produce the same results in two individuals with the same diagnosis but different etiologies. Subgrouping of patients according to their overall presentation of symptoms may therefore be warranted. In addition, consideration should be given to the potential causes of irritability and aggression, such as coexisting medical conditions and environmental factors including inappropriate intervention of parents and teachers. In these cases, the identification of the underlying cause is important because the appropriate management.

Alterations in behavioral responses to dopamine agonists in olfactory bulbectomized mice: relationship to changes in the striatal dopaminergic system

BACKGROUND

Olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) in rodents is considered a putative animal model of depression. It has been reported that some abnormal behaviors observed in this animal model of depression involve dopaminergic neurons of the mesolimbic pathway. Therefore, we examined changes in the dopaminergic system in the caudate putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens core (NAcC), and shell (NAcSh) of OBX mice and whether or not these alterations were reversed by chronic administration of imipramine.

METHODS

We observed climbing behavior, which is a dopamine (DA) receptor-associated behavior, to demonstrate changes in the dopaminergic system of the mesolimbic pathway, when mice were administrated either the nonselective DA agonist apomorphine only or were pre-treated with the selective D1 antagonist SCH23390, with the selective D2 antagonist sulpiride, or with the D2/D3 partial agonist aripiprazole (ARI). Moreover, we examined tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and D1- and D2-like receptor levels in the CPu, NAcC, and NAcSh using immunohistochemistry and autoradiography.

RESULTS

The OBX group exhibited significantly enhanced apomorphine-induced climbing behavior, and this enhanced behavior was reversed by administration of sulpiride, ARI, and imipramine but not SCH23390. Moreover, we found a reduction in TH levels in the CPu, NAcC, and NAcSh of OBX mice and an increase in D2 receptor densities in the NAcC of OBX mice. The increased D2 receptor density observed in OBX mice was reversed by imipramine administration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal that OBX mice display enhanced DA receptor responsiveness, which may relate to some of the behavioral abnormalities reported in this animal model.

Treatment use in a prospective naturalistic cohort of children and adolescents with catatonia

We aimed to (1) describe the treatment used in a large sample of young inpatients with catatonia, (2) determine which factors were associated with improvement and (3) benzodiazepine (BZD) efficacy. From 1993 to 2011, 66 patients between the ages of 9 and 19 years were consecutively hospitalized for a catatonic syndrome. We prospectively collected sociodemographic, clinical and treatment data. In total, 51 (77%) patients underwent a BZD trial. BZDs were effective in 33 (65%) patients, who were associated with significantly fewer severe adverse events (p = 0.013) and resulted in fewer referrals for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) (p = 0.037). Other treatments included ECT (N = 12, 18%); antipsychotic medications, mostly in combination; and treatment of an underlying medical condition, when possible. For 10 patients, four different trials were needed to achieve clinical improvement. When all treatments were combined, there was a better clinical response in acute-onset catatonia (p = 0.032). In contrast, the response was lower in boys (p = 0.044) and when posturing (p = 0.04) and mannerisms (p = 0.008) were present as catatonic symptoms. The treatment response was independent of the underlying psychiatric or systemic medical condition. As in adults, BZDs should be the first-line symptomatic treatment for catatonia in young patients, and ECT should be a second option. Additionally, the absence of an association between the response to treatment and the underlying psychiatric condition suggests that catatonia should be considered as a syndrome.

Antipsychotics use in children and adolescents: An on-going challenge in clinical practice

Antipsychotic medications (APs) are a well-established pharmacological treatment in adults with serious mental health problems. However, many adult mental health disorders have their origins and onset in childhood or adolescence. The understanding that neuropsychiatric conditions of childhood are in part biologically determined, led to an increase in the number of clinical trials supporting evidence on the efficacy of antipsychotic agents as first-line treatment for childhood psychotic disorders and therapeutic augmentation of nonpsychotic conditions. In recent years the use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents for neurodevelopmental, behavioural and psychiatric disorders has significantly increased while the age of prescription has decreased. These trends have not been matched by advances in the understanding of APs' safety profile in this group of patients. It is therefore crucial that current and future practice is informed by up-to-date synthesis of the evidence and clinical guidelines about the use and monitoring of these treatments in paediatric populations, since the effectiveness of early therapeutic interventions in children can affect positively the long-term outcome.

Repeated aripiprazole treatment causes dopamine D2 receptor up-regulation and dopamine supersensitivity in young rats

Aripiprazole is a second-generation antipsychotic that is increasingly being prescribed to children and adolescents. Despite this trend, little preclinical research has been done on the neural and behavioral actions of aripiprazole during early development. In the present study, young male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with vehicle, haloperidol (1 mg/kg), or aripiprazole (10 mg/kg) once daily on postnatal days (PD) 10-20. After 1, 4, or 8 days (i.e. on PD 21, PD 24, or PD 28), amphetamine-induced locomotor activity and stereotypy, as well as dorsal striatal D2 receptor levels, were measured in separate groups of rats. Pretreating young rats with aripiprazole or haloperidol increased D2 binding sites in the dorsal striatum. Consistent with these results, dopamine supersensitivity was apparent when aripiprazole- and haloperidol-pretreated rats were given a test day injection of amphetamine (2 or 4 mg/kg). Increased D2 receptor levels and altered behavioral responding persisted for at least 8 days after conclusion of the pretreatment regimen. Contrary to what has been reported in adults, repeated aripiprazole treatment caused D2 receptor up-regulation and persistent alterations of amphetamine-induced behavior in young rats. These findings are consistent with human clinical studies showing that children and adolescents are more prone than adults to aripiprazole-induced side effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms.

The neurobiology of psychopathic traits in youths

Conduct disorder is a childhood behaviour disorder that is characterized by persistent aggressive or antisocial behaviour that disrupts the child's environment and impairs his or her functioning. A proportion of children with conduct disorder have psychopathic traits. Psychopathic traits consist of a callous-unemotional component and an impulsive-antisocial component, which are associated with two core impairments. The first is a reduced empathic response to the distress of other individuals, which primarily reflects reduced amygdala responsiveness to distress cues; the second is deficits in decision making and in reinforcement learning, which reflects dysfunction in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and striatum. Genetic and prenatal factors contribute to the abnormal development of these neural systems, and social-environmental variables that affect motivation influence the probability that antisocial behaviour will be subsequently displayed.

Current approaches to treatments for schizophrenia spectrum disorders, part I: an overview and medical treatments

During the last three decades, an increasing understanding of the etiology, psychopathology, and clinical manifestations of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, in addition to the introduction of second-generation antipsychotics, has optimized the potential for recovery from the illness. Continued development of various models of psychosocial intervention promotes the goal of schizophrenia treatment from one of symptom control and social adaptation to an optimal restoration of functioning and/or recovery. However, it is still questionable whether these new treatment approaches can address the patients' needs for treatment and services and contribute to better patient outcomes. This article provides an overview of different treatment approaches currently used in schizophrenia spectrum disorders to address complex health problems and a wide range of abnormalities and impairments resulting from the illness. There are different treatment strategies and targets for patients at different stages of the illness, ranging from prophylactic antipsychotics and cognitive-behavioral therapy in the premorbid stage to various psychosocial interventions in addition to antipsychotics for relapse prevention and rehabilitation in the later stages of the illness. The use of antipsychotics alone as the main treatment modality may be limited not only in being unable to tackle the frequently occurring negative symptoms and cognitive impairments but also in producing a wide variety of adverse effects to the body or organ functioning. Because of varied pharmacokinetics and treatment responsiveness across agents, the medication regimen should be determined on an individual basis to ensure an optimal effect in its long-term use. This review also highlights that the recent practice guidelines and standards have recommended that a combination of treatment modalities be adopted to meet the complex health needs of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In view of the heterogeneity of the risk factors and the illness progression of individual patients, the use of multifaceted illness management programs consisting of different combinations of physical, psychological, and social interventions might be efficient and effective in improving recovery.

Electroconvulsive therapy and clozapine in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: is it a safe and effective combination?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the combination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and clozapine compared to ECT with other antipsychotics or benzodiazepines in a sample of adolescents diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

METHODS

Data regarding 28 adolescent subjects aged 13 to 18 with diagnoses of schizophrenia spectrum disorders according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision and treated with ECT were retrospectively collected. Twelve subjects were also treated with clozapine and 16 with other antipsychotics or benzodiazepines during ECT course and follow-up. Electroconvulsive therapy parameters and adverse effects were assessed using a systematic protocol. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Clinical Global Impression scores before ECT and after acute ECT, and rate of rehospitalization during 1-year follow-up were used to assess effectiveness. Response was defined as a 20% decrease in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores.

RESULTS

No differences were observed in the mean charge needed to induce seizure and electroencephalographic duration, but there was a slight difference in the current used. The nonclozapine group showed greater restlessness and agitation, although no differences were found in other adverse effects. The percentage of responders was similar: 66.7% in the clozapine group and 68.8% in the nonclozapine group. However, the rate of rehospitalization was lower in the patients treated with clozapine during 1-year follow-up (7.1%) compared to that of the nonclozapine group (58.3%) (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The main findings of this study were that combining ECT with clozapine, compared to ECT with other antipsychotics or benzodiazepines, was safe and that both treatments were equally effective. Charges needed to induce seizure were similar in both groups. Patients treated with clozapine during 1-year follow-up had a lower rate of rehospitalization.

Bone mineral density in male adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and disruptive behavior disorder with or without antipsychotic treatment

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the long-term effects of antipsychotic (AP) treatment and AP-induced hyperprolactinemia on bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in male adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and/or disruptive behavior disorder (DBD).

DESIGN

Physically healthy 10- to 20-year-old boys with ASD and/or DBD, chronically treated (n=56; mean 52 months, range 16-126 months) or not treated (n=47) with an AP, were recruited to this observational study. Prolactin levels and biochemical bone parameters were measured and BMD of the lumbar spine and total body, and body composition were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and volumetric BMD of the lumbar spine calculated. Group differences were tested with Student's t-test, χ(2) test, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-nine percent of the boys treated with an AP had hyperprolactinemia. The mean volumetric lumbar spine BMD z-score was lower (P=0.043), the total percentage of body fat z-score was higher (P=0.042), and biochemical bone marker carboxyterminal cross-linking telopeptide of bone collagen was lower in the AP-treated boys with hyperprolactinemia than in the AP-treated boys without hyperprolactinemia. Seven to 11% of the hyperprolactinemic boys had low BMD. The mean lumbar spine and total body BMD z-scores and body composition were similar in the boys who were or were not treated with an AP. The total study population had a lower mean lean tissue mass (mean z-score -0.37, P=0.004) and a higher percentage of total body fat (mean z-score 1.16, P<0.001) than healthy controls (normative data); biochemical bone parameters were within normal limits.

CONCLUSION

AP-induced hyperprolactinemia in boys with ASD or DBD may have a negative effect on lumbar spine BMD. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this finding and further disentangle the effects of the disorder, lifestyle, treatment, and hyperprolactinemia.

Use of continuation or maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in adolescents with severe treatment-resistant depression

Retrospective data are presented for 6 adolescents ranging in age from 14 to 17 years, who were diagnosed with severe treatment-resistant major depression (TRD). Subjects were treated with one or more index courses of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) followed by continuation ECT (C-ECT, up to 6 months of ECT) or maintenance ECT (M-ECT; ECT beyond 6 months) when necessary. Electroconvulsive therapy was continued until remission or until minimal residual symptoms were evident. Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy were reintroduced during C-ECT or M-ECT. Premorbid functioning was achieved by 5 of 6 cases. Cognitive deficits were not evident. In fact, comparison of pre-ECT and post-ECT neuropsychological functioning revealed a trend toward improved auditory and verbal memory on most of the results. We concluded that C-ECT and M-ECT are useful and safe treatment strategies for selected adolescents with severe treatment-resistant depression, and symptom remission may be achieved without experiencing cognitive impairment.

Aripiprazole for the treatment of irritability associated with autism

INTRODUCTION

Irritability (including tantrums, aggression and moodiness) is often associated with autistic disorder. Children with autism are frequently prescribed atypical antipsychotic medications for these behaviors. Although multiple agents have been found to be effective, the safety and tolerability of each antipsychotic may be the determining factor in its selection.

AREAS COVERED

The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety and efficacy data on aripiprazole for the treatment of irritability associated with autism are discussed. Knowledge of the mechanism of action, advantages and disadvantages relative to other atypical antipsychotics, and an appreciation of the efficacy of aripiprazole when used to treat irritability in autism is also explored in this paper.

EXPERT OPINION

Aripiprazole may have a more favorable side-effect profile than another commonly prescribed medication, risperidone, because of its unique mechanism of action. It seems to be effective in treating irritability associated with autism, but more research is needed.

Electroconvulsive therapy in adolescents with the catatonia syndrome: efficacy and ethics

OBJECTIVES

In child and adolescent psychiatry, catatonia is infrequent, but it is one of the most severe syndromes, characterized by the coexistence of psychic and motor symptoms. In this report, we explore the therapeutic experience with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in adolescents with catatonia.

METHODS

We review the literature (1985-2009) to clarify issues related to the use of ECT in child and adolescent patients with catatonia.

RESULTS

Electroconvulsive therapy is used as second-line management after high-dose benzodiazepine trials. Electroconvulsive therapy is an effective, safe, and useful procedure in the treatment of catatonic youngsters as reported in 59 patients. Ethical issues regarding the use of ECT are analyzed and their implications briefly discussed in the light of general medical ethics.

CONCLUSIONS

Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective treatment for catatonia in children and adolescents.

Lorazepam, fluoxetine and packing therapy in an adolescent with pervasive developmental disorder and catatonia

Packing therapy is an adjunct symptomatic treatment used for autism and/or catatonia. Here, we report the case of a 15-year-old boy with pervasive developmental disorder who developed catatonia. At admission, catatonic symptoms were severe and the patient required a feeding tube. Lorazepam up to 15 mg/day moderately improved the catatonic symptoms. On day 36 we added fluoxetine and on day 62 we added packing therapy (twice per week, 10 sessions). After three packing sessions, the patient showed a significant clinical improvement (P<0.001). At discharge (day 96), he was able to return to his special education program. Although we do not consider packing as a psychodynamic treatment, this case challenges the concept of embodied self that has opened new perspectives on a dialogue between psychoanalysis and neuroscience. Indeed, better body representation following packing sessions, as shown in patient's drawing, paralleled clinical improvement, and supports the concept of embodied self. This concept may serve as a link between psychoanalysis and attachment theory, developmental psychology with the early description of "sense of self", and cognitive neurosciences that more and more support the concept of embodied cognition. Further clinical studies are necessary to clarify the efficacy and underlying mechanism of packing treatment and to understand how patient's experience may illustrate the concept of embodied self.

Electroconvulsive therapy resolves cortical inhibition and manneristic omissions in a chronic catatonic patient

We investigated a patient with severe catatonic schizophrenia (manneristic catatonia according to Karl Leonhard) treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) after pharmacological approaches did not result in any clinical improvement. Before and after nine ECT sessions a double-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) paradigm was used to measure intracortical inhibition (ICI) which has been shown to be reduced in a significant proportion of patients with schizophrenia. Although the patient showed no remission regarding some psychomotor aspects after ECT, we found an increase in ICI and a remarkable clinical improvement of catatonic omissions which might be due to changes in the GABAergic system.

Effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole in children and adolescents with Tourette's disorder: a pilot study in China

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of aripiprazole on motor and vocal tics in children and adolescents with Tourette's disorder (TD). The secondary aim was to assess the response of TD-associated behaviors to aripiprazole exposure.

METHODS

This was an 8-week, open-label trial with flexible dosing strategy of aripiprazole in children and adolescents with TD. A total of 72 patients, aged 6-18 years, participated in the 8-week trial. The Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), the Clinical Global Impressions-Tics (CGI-Tics), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were compared at the baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and end point. The side effects of aripiprazole, electrocardiogram (ECG), and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Over the 8-week trial, aripiprazole administration was associated with a significant decrease in total tic severity as measured by the YGTSS (50.3% reduction by week 8). The mean scores of motor tic in the YGTSS were 17.42 +/- 4.83, 12.93 +/- 3.76, 8.39 +/- 3.70, and 6.75 +/- 3.95 at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and end point. A significant decrease in the scores was observed in week 2 compared to the baseline, and the scores continued to decrease for the remainder of the study period (degrees of freedom [df ] = 3, F = 96.02, p = 0.000). The mean phonic tic scores were 12.71 +/- 4.60, 8.53 +/- 3.26, 6.10 +/- 2.50, and 3.63 +/- 2.20 at baseline, weeks 2 and 4, and end point, respectively. A significant change was observed during week 2 compared to the baseline, and this change continued for the rest of the study period (df = 3, F = 95.16, p = 0.000). Significant improvement was also observed according to the CGI-Tics severity. The mean CGI-Tics severity score was 4.77 +/- 1.69 at baseline and decreased to 2.20 +/- 1.39 at end point (t = 10.70, p = 0.000). A significant reduction of behavior symptoms was noticed according to the CBCL and its subscales between baseline and end point. The majority of subjects tolerated aripiprazole well. The extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) during this study were negligible. In all 21 (29.2%) of the 72 participants complained of nausea and 19 (26.4%) of them reported sedation. There was no significant difference of BMI between the two phases (df = 64, t = -0.94, p = 0.352). There were no significant changes in laboratory results. ECG monitoring revealed no significant impact on cardiac conduction by aripiprazol.

CONCLUSION

In this preliminary open-label trial, aripiprazole showed effectiveness in treating tic symptoms without causing significant weight gain or other serious side effects. Aripiprazole could be an option for TD cases that do not respond to conventional therapies. Further controlled, double-blind studies are warranted.

Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in autistic catatonia: a case series review

The usage of electroconvulsive therapy for the acute resolution of catatonia in autistic children and adults is a novel area that has received increased attention over the past few years. Reported length of the acute ECT course varies among these patients, and there is no current literature on maintenance ECT in autism. The maintenance ECT courses of three patients with autism who developed catatonia are presented. Clinical, research, legal, and administrative implications for ECT treatment in this special population are discussed.

Association of adolescent catatonia with increased mortality and morbidity: evidence from a prospective follow-up study

This paper examined outcomes among youth with catatonic syndrome and determined whether the characteristics suggesting the relevance of chronic catatonic schizophrenia (CCS) at index episode remained stable at follow-up. From 1993 to 2004, 35 individuals aged 12 to 18 years were prospectively admitted for management of catatonic syndrome and followed up after discharge. Mean duration from discharge to follow-up was 3.9 years (range 1-10). Four patients were lost to follow-up. Among the remaining 31 subjects (mean age=19.5 years, range 15-26), life-time diagnosis using the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies was unchanged in 28 patients, and included schizophrenia (all subtypes; N=20), major depressive episode (N=5), bipolar disorder type I (N=4) and brief psychotic episode (N=2). Mortality (all-cause Standardized Mortality Ratio=6266; 95% CI=1181-18,547) and morbidity were severe, with 3 deaths (including 2 suicides), 6 patients presenting with a causal organic condition and 14 subjects needing continuous psychiatric care. All males in the study (N=8) who had chronic catatonic schizophrenia at the index episode still had chronic catatonic signs at follow-up. Catatonia is one of the most severe psychiatric syndromes in adolescents. It is associated with a 60-fold increased risk of premature death, including suicide, when compared to the general population of same sex and age. This increased risk of premature death remains higher than the one measured in former adolescent psychiatric patients (all-cause SMR=221; 95% CI=156-303; Engqvist and Rydelius, 2006), or in schizophrenia irrespective to age and subtype (all-cause SMR=157; 95% CI=153-160; Harris and Barraclough, 1998).

The successful use of right unilateral ultra-brief pulse electroconvulsive therapy in an adolescent with catatonia

Right unilateral ultra-brief electroconvulsive therapy (RUL UB ECT) has been shown to be efficacious with minimal cognitive adverse effects in adult patients with major depression. We present the case of a 14-year-old girl with major depressive disorder with catatonic and psychotic features whose symptoms remitted after 12 treatments of RUL UB ECT.