# Electroconvulsive Therapy for Malignant Catatonia: A Case Report in the Intensive Care Unit

## TL;DR

This case report describes the use of electroconvulsive therapy in the ICU to treat malignant catatonia in a 43-year-old man after a cardiorespiratory arrest.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare ICU case where ECT was used for malignant catatonia following cardiorespiratory arrest.

## Key findings

- The patient was admitted for a manic episode and later developed malignant catatonia.
- ECT was administered in the ICU after cardiorespiratory arrest.
- ECT was considered despite the risks due to the failure of standard treatments.

## Abstract

Catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by motor and behavioral disturbances, which can complicate both psychiatric and medical conditions. Diagnosing catatonia in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be challenging due to symptom overlap with other conditions, such as delirium. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be considered in certain cases, particularly when standard treatments fail, though its use in ICU settings is rare due to concerns about patient stability and procedural risk. We present the case of a 43-year-old male, admitted for a manic episode, who was transferred to the ICU following a cardiorespiratory arrest and subsequently treated with ECT for malignant catatonia.