Catatonia in autistic twins: Role of electroconvulsive therapy

Autism and Asperger disorder are pervasive developmental disorders that impair social interactions and communications. They are characterized by repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Catatonia, a syndrome which is most often associated with schizophrenia and affective disorders, is seen in up to 6% of patients with autistic spectrum disorders and in 12% to 17% of adolescents with these disorders. Catatonic symptoms in these cases have been responsive to treatment with electroconvulsive therapy. We report a case of adolescent identical twins with PDD/Asperger disorder who exhibited catatonia and were successfully treated with electroconvulsive therapy.