Lifesaving Electroconvulsive Therapy for a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Severe Self-Injurious Behavior, and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

María Fernanda González-Romero; Ana Michelle Avina-Galindo; Dean Elbe; Robin Friedlander; Fidel Vila-Rodriguez

doi:10.1097/YCT.0000000000000598

Lifesaving Electroconvulsive Therapy for a Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Severe Self-Injurious Behavior, and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

J ECT. 2019 Dec;35(4):e55-e56. doi: 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000598.

Authors

María Fernanda González-Romero¹, Ana Michelle Avina-Galindo², Dean Elbe^{2

3

4}, Robin Friedlander⁴, Fidel Vila-Rodriguez^{4

5}

Affiliations

¹ From the Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
² Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.
³ Child and Adolescent Mental Health Programs, BC Children's Hospital.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia.
⁵ Non-Invasive Neurostimulation Therapies Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

PMID: 31764456
DOI: 10.1097/YCT.0000000000000598

Abstract

We present a case of a preteen with autism spectrum disorder and severe self-injurious behavior who developed neuroleptic malignant syndrome on antipsychotics and required urgent electroconvulsive therapy and continued maintenance electroconvulsive therapy for ongoing clinical stability.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy*
Child
Electroconvulsive Therapy / methods*
Humans
Male
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / therapy*
Self-Injurious Behavior / therapy*