Case of paediatric catatonia precipitated by antipsychotic withdrawal in a child with autism spectrum disorder.

A 13-year-old girl with moderate intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was admitted to the paediatric high-dependency unit following an 8-week history of altered mental status and motor behaviour. Her symptoms emerged followed shortly after discontinuation of risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic previously commenced to manage disruptive behaviour associated with ASD. On physical examination, the patient presented with negativism, grimacing, automatic obedience, waxy flexibility and ambitendency.