# Severe Catatonia in Early-Onset Schizophrenia Successfully Treated With Lorazepam and Aripiprazole in a 16-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A 16-year-old girl with early-onset schizophrenia showed severe catatonia, which improved with lorazepam and aripiprazole, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

This case report presents a successful treatment approach for catatonia in adolescent schizophrenia using a combination of lorazepam and aripiprazole.

## Key findings

- Catatonia in adolescents with schizophrenia can be effectively treated with lorazepam and aripiprazole.
- Differentiating catatonia from neuroleptic malignant syndrome is crucial for appropriate treatment.
- Low-dose aripiprazole added to lorazepam resolved symptoms not improved by lorazepam alone.

## Abstract

Catatonia is a severe but often underrecognized neuropsychiatric condition in adolescents. We present the case of a 16-year-old girl with early-onset schizophrenia who developed acute catatonic symptoms during a relapse following risperidone reintroduction. The clinical presentation raised a diagnostic dilemma with neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). A lorazepam trial led to partial improvement, but symptom resolution occurred only after adding low-dose aripiprazole. This case underscores the importance of early identification of catatonia in adolescents, careful differentiation from NMS, and the potential benefit of combined lorazepam and aripiprazole treatment in catatonic schizophrenia.