Catatonia at AACAP Annual Meeting 2026
33 sessions on catatonia · October 26–31, 2026, Atlanta, GA. Compare catatonia at other meetings →
Tuesday, October 27
08:00–10:00 · Lecture
The Use of Telemedicine in Outpatient Care for Catatonia
Examines telemedicine delivery of outpatient care for catatonia.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Digital Psychiatry & AI
08:00–10:00 · Lecture
The Use of ECT for Catatonia in Autistic and Nonautistic Patients
Looks at ECT use for catatonia, comparing autistic and nonautistic patients.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Neuromodulation (ECT, TMS)
08:00–10:00 · Lecture
Genetic Testing Practices and Diagnostic Outcomes in Catatonia With and Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Presents genetic testing practices and diagnostic yield in catatonia with and without neurodevelopmental disorders.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Pharmacogenomics & Precision Psychiatry
08:00–10:00 · Lecture
Stressful Life Events and Catatonia Severity
Examines the relationship between stressful life events and catatonia severity.
08:00–10:00 · Symposium
Catatonia in ASD: Emerging Evidence Across Stress, Treatment, Care Delivery, and Genetics
James Luccarelli · Megan Single · Isaac Baldwin · Joshua Ryan Smith · Kelli C. Dominick · Idil Yazgan
Presents emerging evidence on catatonia in autism spectrum disorder, including stress, treatment, care delivery and genetics.
08:30–10:30 · Lecture
Catatonia as a Regression Syndrome: Insights From Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
Examines catatonia as a form of regression, drawing on findings from Phelan-McDermid syndrome.
08:30–10:30 · Lecture
Immune Dysfunction in Regression and Catatonia: Lessons Learned From Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD)
Discusses the role of immune dysfunction in regression and catatonia, based on Down Syndrome Regression Disorder.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Inflammation & Immunopsychiatry
08:30–10:30 · Lecture
From Framework to Practice: Integrating Regression Into Clinical Care and Treatment Pathways
Covers how a regression framework can be applied in clinical care and treatment pathways.
09:00–11:00 · Lecture
Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Delirium, Catatonia, and Medical Traumatic Stress: Evaluation and Management in the ICU and Beyond
Addresses evaluation and management of delirium, catatonia and medical traumatic stress in youth with neurodevelopmental disorders in intensive care and afterward.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Child & Adolescent · Medical Comorbidity & C-L Psychiatry
09:00–11:00 · Lecture · Clinical Perspectives
Down Syndrome Regression Disorder in Psychiatric Practice: Recognition, Assessment, and Treatment
Recognition, assessment and treatment of Down syndrome regression disorder in psychiatric practice.
11:00–13:00 · Symposium
Down Syndrome Regression Disorder: From Bench to Bedside
GenaLynne C. Mooneyham · Cassie D. Karlsson · Aaron D. Besterman · Eliza M. Gordon-Lipkin · Christopher M. Bartley
A symposium on Down syndrome regression disorder, spanning laboratory findings through clinical care.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Child & Adolescent · Inflammation & Immunopsychiatry
14:00–16:00 · Session
Catatonia at the Intersection of ASD and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Rethinking Presentation and Pharmacological Response
Elizabeth Margolis · Anastasia Klott · Joshua Ryan Smith · Josiah Cox · Kristina Flores
Clinical perspectives session on how catatonia presents in youth with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and on pharmacological response in these patients.
14:00–16:00 · Lecture · Clinical Perspectives
How to Bend and Not Break: Diagnostic and Treatment Flexibility in Catatonia and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Kristina Flores · Joan R. Winter
Discusses flexible diagnostic and treatment approaches for catatonia in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.
14:00–16:00 · Lecture · Clinical Perspectives
Missed for 3 Years: Delayed Diagnosis of Catatonia and a New Diagnosis of Kleefstra Syndrome
Case presentation of catatonia that went undiagnosed for years and led to a diagnosis of Kleefstra syndrome.
14:00–16:00 · Lecture · Clinical Perspectives
Could This Be Catatonia? A Case of Refractory Psychosis Associated With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Case of refractory psychosis with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in which catatonia was considered.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Child & Adolescent · Schizophrenia & Psychosis
14:00–16:00 · Lecture · Clinical Perspectives
Mania vs Agitated Catatonia, Plus Treatment Complications in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
Differentiates mania from agitated catatonia and reviews treatment complications in a patient with Phelan-McDermid syndrome.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Bipolar Disorder · Child & Adolescent
Session · Clinical Case Conference
Going From Lorazepam 140 Mg to Zero: A Cross-Country Transfer for Electroconvulsive Therapy
Aishwarya Rajagopalan · Anastasia Klott · Jacob Feigal · Jonathan R. Komisar · Beau A. Carubia · Alejandra Chavez
Case conference on severe malignant catatonia from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis requiring a cross-country transfer for ECT, used to spotlight state-level legal barriers to pediatric ECT access, with the patient and family perspective included.
Child & Adolescent · Inflammation & Immunopsychiatry · Neuromodulation (ECT, TMS)
Wednesday, October 28
12:00–14:00 · Lecture
Anticatatonic Treatment Paradigms
Reviews treatment approaches for catatonia.
15:30–17:30 · Session
Systemic Challenges to ECT Treatment for Youth: Clinical Cases Highlighting Barriers and Opportunities
Rebecca Marshall · James Luccarelli · H. Yavuz Ince · Neera Ghaziuddin · Joshua Ryan Smith
Case conference on treating youth with catatonia and comorbid illness when ECT access is limited by state laws. Reviews alternative treatments and ways to address systemic barriers to ECT.
Child & Adolescent · Neuromodulation (ECT, TMS) · Practice, Policy & Workforce
Posters (5)
- Disparities and Clinical Complexity in Pediatric Catatonia: A Diverse Cohort Analysis — Julia A. Gex et al.
- Evidence-Based Management of Catatonia in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review — Hooria Sarwar et al.
- Serious Neuropsychiatric Illness in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Includes Symptoms of Affective Disorder, Psychosis, and Catatonia — Teresa M. Kohlenberg et al.
- Exploring the Association Between School Bullying and Pediatric Catatonia in Adolescents: A Systematic Review — Emmanuel Annor et al.
- Pediatric Catatonia Trends Between Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Comorbidity of Trauma and Drug Abuse — Gabrielle Maire et al.
Thursday, October 29
11:30–13:00 · Lecture · Research Pipeline: New Findings on Therapeutics
Catatonia in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome: Results From the Inventory of Psychiatric Symptoms
Camilla N. Regalia · Edward Yi · Alexander Kolevzon
Presents findings on catatonia symptoms in people with Phelan-McDermid syndrome using an inventory of psychiatric symptoms.
16:00–18:00 · Lecture
Critical Literature Updates in Pediatric Catatonia, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Obesity, and Girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Mental Health
Literature update spanning pediatric catatonia, neurodevelopmental disorders, obesity, and girls' sexual and reproductive mental health.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · GLP-1 & Metabolic Psychiatry · Perinatal & Women's Mental Health
Posters (1)
- Catatonia in Pediatric A nti-N-methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: A 2-Site Retrospective Cohort Study — Emily Slominski et al.
Friday, October 30
15:00–17:00 · Lecture
Catatonia in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Kyung Eun Paik · Cassie D. Karlsson
Discusses recognition and management of catatonia in people with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Course · Institute
Neuropsychiatric Paradigms in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Theory Informing Clinical Practice
Jay Salpekar · Aaron Hauptman · Jagan K. Chilakamarri · Cassie D. Karlsson · Nadia Zaim · Kyung Eun Paik · Julio Quezada · Sigita Plioplys
Institute framing childhood neurologic and psychiatric disease as integrated rather than separate conditions, with sessions on degenerative diseases, catatonia, developmental regression, and functional neurologic symptoms.
Saturday, October 31
11:00–12:30 · Session
Expanding Partnerships for Pediatric Catatonia: Moving From a National Working Group to Local Implementation
Joshua Ryan Smith · Nasuh Malas · Khyati Brahmbhatt
Special interest group on turning the work of a national pediatric catatonia workgroup into local practice. Uses breakout discussions on the white paper, clinical pathway, multisite study and implementation strategies.
Child & Adolescent · Practice, Policy & Workforce · Medical Comorbidity & C-L Psychiatry
12:30–14:30 · Session
The Many Colors of Catatonia: Practical Recognition in Complex Pediatric Presentations
Sohail A. Nibras · Julia A. Gex · Pamela A. Campbell · Claudia Moreno · Danielle W. Lowe
A clinical case conference using three complex adolescent cases to illustrate recognizing and treating catatonia. It covers pharmacologic and ECT-based approaches and the leadership role of consultation-liaison psychiatrists in interdisciplinary teams.
Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Child & Adolescent · Medical Comorbidity & C-L Psychiatry
Posters (2)
- Antipsychotic Use and Outcomes in Pediatric Catatonia: Case Series at a Tertiary Children’s Hospital — Annie Chang et al.
- Variation in Catatonia Symptoms Across Pediatric Populations — Amelia Shaddinger
Other topics at this meeting
Child & Adolescent 1361Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders 272Diverse & Underserved Populations 231Practice, Policy & Workforce 171Psychotherapy 166Education & Training 156Digital Psychiatry & AI 149Measurement-Based Care & Diagnosis 145ADHD 135Neuroscience & Mechanisms 124PTSD & Trauma 114Suicide & Self-Harm 110