Case Report: "Niemann-Pick Disease Type C in a Catatonic Patient Treated With Electroconvulsive Therapy"

M van Verseveld, L H Koens, Tom J de Koning, R L E Derikx, J A van Waarde

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We describe a case of an adolescent male with Niemann-Pick Type C (NP-C), a neurodegenerative lysosomal lipid storage disorder, who presented with recurrent catatonia which required repeated treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). During the ECT-course, seizure threshold increased substantially, leading to questions about the influence of NP-C on neuronal excitability. In this exemplary ECT-patient, NP-C was diagnosed not until after the first ECT-course when initial psychopharmacology for catatonia had failed and antipsychotics and benzodiazepines showed significant side-effects. Clinicians should be aware of NP-C in patients referred for ECT, especially in the case of treatment resistance, neurological symptoms and intolerance of psychopharmacological drugs. As was shown in our NP-C patient, ECT can be repeatedly effective for catatonic features. In the literature, effectiveness of ECT in patients with NP-C has sparsely been reported. This case demonstrates that detection of NP-C is beneficial for patients because more optimal treatment with ECT can be provided earlier without further exposure to side-effects.

Original languageEnglish
Article number745734
Pages (from-to)1-4
JournalFrontiers in Psychiatry
Volume12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2021 van Verseveld, Koens, de Koning, Derikx and van Waarde.

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Psychiatry

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