New hope for teens with autism and catatonia: drug and brain stimulation trial underway

NCT ID NCT07498387

First seen Mar 31, 2026 · Last updated May 13, 2026 · Updated 6 times

Summary

This study tests whether benzodiazepines (a type of sedative) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, a controlled brain stimulation) can safely reduce catatonic symptoms—like immobility, mutism, or odd movements—in 30 adolescents aged 10-19 with profound autism. Participants receive medication or ECT over 3 months, with symptom tracking using rating scales. The goal is to ease these severe features, not cure autism.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinics, Psychiatry and Neurology Center, Tanta University

    Tanta, El-Gharbia Governorate, 31527, Egypt

Conditions

Explore the condition pages connected to this study.