AUTHOR=Ridgeway Laura , Okoye Albert , McClelland Ian , Dhossche Dirk , Kutay Deniz , Loureiro Mario 

TITLE=Case Report: A Case of Pediatric Catatonia: Role of the Lorazepam Challenge Test

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.637886

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2021.637886

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<p>A case of a 12-year-old boy who developed catatonia is presented. He had no previous psychiatric history but has a family history of affective disorder. An extensive medical workup was negative. Despite a negative lorazepam challenge test, lorazepam was titrated up to 24 mg/day, with resolution of most catatonic symptoms. The case highlights an important point in the management of catatonia that may be a source of confusion, i.e., a positive lorazepam challenge test corroborates the diagnosis of catatonia; however, a negative lorazepam challenge test does not negate the diagnosis of catatonia, and subsequent focused benzodiazepine treatment may still be effective.</p>