ObjectivesCatatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by motor, vocal, affective, and behavioral changes including alterations in external (environmental) and internal (proprioceptive) awareness. Given the historic underrecognition of this diagnosis, as well as its heterogeneous presentation, data are lacking to describe the prevalence of catatonia in the pediatric hospital population. The prevalence of catatonia in child and adolescent inpatient psychiatry units ranges from 0.6% to 17%. There has been an anecdotal increase in diagnoses of catatonia during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis retrospective study reviewed charts of patients admitted to our children’s hospital with an ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis code of catatonia in their hospital problem list. This study included patients aged 0 to 17 years who were admitted to medical and psychiatric floors from 2017, when the hospital transitioned to a new electronic medical record system, until the present.ResultsBetween 2017 and 2022, 25 adolescents were admitted with an ICD diagnosis of catatonia. Twelve were female and 13 were male. Twelve percent (12%) of the patients self-identified as Hispanic, and 88% as non-Hispanic. Ages ranged from 12 years 3 months to 17 years 10 months, with an average age of 15.17 years. Common comorbid mental health diagnoses included ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders. Common neuropsychiatric comorbidities included ASD, developmental disabilities, seizures, and genetic disorders. Notably, 6 patients had a diagnosis of catatonia between 2019 and 2020, and 12 patients had a diagnosis between 2021 and 2022, representing a 100% increase in patients who had a chart diagnosis of catatonia after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionsThis study aimed to gather information about the count, demographics, and comorbid diagnoses of patients diagnosed with catatonia in the years preceding and following the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an increase in catatonia diagnosis after the onset of the pandemic. The reasons for this increase are unknown but could include an increase in the number of children with psychiatric illnesses, delays in access to mental health care, or a correlation with COVID-19 infection or immunization.CON, ND, EPI ObjectivesCatatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by motor, vocal, affective, and behavioral changes including alterations in external (environmental) and internal (proprioceptive) awareness. Given the historic underrecognition of this diagnosis, as well as its heterogeneous presentation, data are lacking to describe the prevalence of catatonia in the pediatric hospital population. The prevalence of catatonia in child and adolescent inpatient psychiatry units ranges from 0.6% to 17%. There has been an anecdotal increase in diagnoses of catatonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by motor, vocal, affective, and behavioral changes including alterations in external (environmental) and internal (proprioceptive) awareness. Given the historic underrecognition of this diagnosis, as well as its heterogeneous presentation, data are lacking to describe the prevalence of catatonia in the pediatric hospital population. The prevalence of catatonia in child and adolescent inpatient psychiatry units ranges from 0.6% to 17%. There has been an anecdotal increase in diagnoses of catatonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThis retrospective study reviewed charts of patients admitted to our children’s hospital with an ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis code of catatonia in their hospital problem list. This study included patients aged 0 to 17 years who were admitted to medical and psychiatric floors from 2017, when the hospital transitioned to a new electronic medical record system, until the present. This retrospective study reviewed charts of patients admitted to our children’s hospital with an ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis code of catatonia in their hospital problem list. This study included patients aged 0 to 17 years who were admitted to medical and psychiatric floors from 2017, when the hospital transitioned to a new electronic medical record system, until the present. ResultsBetween 2017 and 2022, 25 adolescents were admitted with an ICD diagnosis of catatonia. Twelve were female and 13 were male. Twelve percent (12%) of the patients self-identified as Hispanic, and 88% as non-Hispanic. Ages ranged from 12 years 3 months to 17 years 10 months, with an average age of 15.17 years. Common comorbid mental health diagnoses included ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders. Common neuropsychiatric comorbidities included ASD, developmental disabilities, seizures, and genetic disorders. Notably, 6 patients had a diagnosis of catatonia between 2019 and 2020, and 12 patients had a diagnosis between 2021 and 2022, representing a 100% increase in patients who had a chart diagnosis of catatonia after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2017 and 2022, 25 adolescents were admitted with an ICD diagnosis of catatonia. Twelve were female and 13 were male. Twelve percent (12%) of the patients self-identified as Hispanic, and 88% as non-Hispanic. Ages ranged from 12 years 3 months to 17 years 10 months, with an average age of 15.17 years. Common comorbid mental health diagnoses included ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders. Common neuropsychiatric comorbidities included ASD, developmental disabilities, seizures, and genetic disorders. Notably, 6 patients had a diagnosis of catatonia between 2019 and 2020, and 12 patients had a diagnosis between 2021 and 2022, representing a 100% increase in patients who had a chart diagnosis of catatonia after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. ConclusionsThis study aimed to gather information about the count, demographics, and comorbid diagnoses of patients diagnosed with catatonia in the years preceding and following the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an increase in catatonia diagnosis after the onset of the pandemic. The reasons for this increase are unknown but could include an increase in the number of children with psychiatric illnesses, delays in access to mental health care, or a correlation with COVID-19 infection or immunization.CON, ND, EPI This study aimed to gather information about the count, demographics, and comorbid diagnoses of patients diagnosed with catatonia in the years preceding and following the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an increase in catatonia diagnosis after the onset of the pandemic. The reasons for this increase are unknown but could include an increase in the number of children with psychiatric illnesses, delays in access to mental health care, or a correlation with COVID-19 infection or immunization.