Neurodevelopmental Disorders Including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability as a Risk Factor for Delayed Diagnosis of Catatonia.

Intellectual disability and autism are risk factors for significantly delayed diagnosis of catatonia. It is unknown whether delayed diagnosis contributes to the difficulty in treating catatonia in this patient population or whether the treatment difficulties relate instead to differential and ongoing biological mechanisms and underlying encephalopathy. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of increased recognition of catatonia symptoms in patients with NDDs and suggest early referral to psychiatric specialists may shorten the delay to diagnosis.