Catatonia Treatment in Brookline, MA
Catatonia is a serious neuropsychiatric condition that can involve changes in movement, speech, responsiveness, and behavior. Symptoms may fluctuate, be misunderstood, or overlap with other medical or psychiatric conditions, making timely and accurate evaluation essential.
Dr. Annabel Kuhn is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her residency at Harvard and her fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital. She provides expert outpatient assessment and treatment of catatonia in both children and adults.
Her work emphasizes diagnostic clarity, careful monitoring, and coordination with medical and mental health providers to ensure safe, appropriate care.
Families begin with a brief phone conversation before scheduling an evaluation.
Where Dr. Kuhn Fits In
Dr. Kuhn does
- Evaluate and diagnose catatonia, including motor and behavioral examination and rating scales such as the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale
- Manage high-dose benzodiazepine treatment and tapers with meticulous oversight
- Identify catatonia in children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, where it is frequently missed
- Facilitate ECT referral and coordinate with the ECT team throughout treatment
- Coordinate with other psychiatrists, neurologists, and primary care clinicians
Dr. Kuhn does not
- Provide ECT directly
- Diagnose or manage the underlying medical condition causing the catatonia
- Order or interpret the medical and neurological workup, though she may recommend expedited evaluation
- Provide inpatient or emergency care
Untreated catatonia carries real medical risk. If a patient is acutely unwell, seek emergency medical care rather than waiting for an outpatient appointment.
Understanding Catatonia
Catatonia is a serious but treatable neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by specific motor, behavioral, and autonomic abnormalities. It is significantly underdiagnosed, particularly in pediatric populations. In children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, catatonia symptoms are frequently misattributed to baseline behavioral patterns, leading to diagnostic delays.
Catatonia is not a standalone diagnosis. It is always secondary to an underlying medical or psychiatric condition. Accurate diagnosis relies on physical examination findings and rating scales such as the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale. Early recognition and appropriate treatment are critical, as untreated catatonia carries significant medical risks.
Because catatonia so often appears in children with genetic and neurodevelopmental conditions, and in the context of autoimmune and inflammatory illness, evaluation frequently requires holding the whole medical picture in view.
Signs & Symptoms
Dr. Kuhn's Approach to Catatonia Treatment
For pediatric patients, the initial evaluation takes about two hours and happens in two parts. The first is with the parents or caregivers, before Dr. Kuhn meets the child, so the complete history can be shared, including what the child is like at baseline. That baseline matters enormously in catatonia, because the diagnosis often rests on recognizing a change from it.
The second part is with the child, and includes careful motor and behavioral examination alongside understanding the child as an individual.
For patients with established diagnoses, Dr. Kuhn manages high-dose benzodiazepine treatment and tapers with meticulous oversight. She collaborates with members of the patient's care team, including other psychiatrists, neurologists, and primary care clinicians, to ensure coordinated care.
When electroconvulsive therapy is needed, Dr. Kuhn facilitates referrals and coordinates with the ECT team throughout treatment. For cases with diagnostic uncertainty, she may recommend expedited medical and neurological evaluation to assess underlying contributors, while remaining actively involved in the care plan. Her limited patient panel means she has the availability that close monitoring requires.
Educational Resource
Dr. Kuhn co-hosted Episode 243 of the Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast on Pediatric Catatonia with Dr. Joshua Ryan Smith from Vanderbilt University, discussing essential clinical skills for identifying and treating this underdiagnosed condition.
Who Dr. Kuhn Coordinates With
Catatonia treatment requires close monitoring and usually involves several clinicians. With consent, Dr. Kuhn communicates directly with the rest of the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dr. Kuhn treat catatonia in both children and adults?
Yes. Dr. Kuhn provides catatonia evaluation and treatment for patients of all ages.
What causes catatonia?
Catatonia is always secondary to an underlying condition. Common causes include mood disorders, psychotic disorders, autism spectrum disorder, medical conditions, and autoimmune processes. A thorough evaluation is essential to identify and treat the underlying cause.
How is catatonia treated?
First-line treatment typically involves benzodiazepines, which Dr. Kuhn manages with careful monitoring. For cases that do not respond adequately to medication, electroconvulsive therapy may be indicated. Dr. Kuhn coordinates with ECT teams when referral is appropriate.
Does Dr. Kuhn provide ECT?
No. Dr. Kuhn does not provide ECT directly. She facilitates referral when it is indicated and coordinates closely with the ECT care team throughout treatment to ensure integrated psychiatric oversight.
Can catatonia occur in children with autism?
Yes. Catatonia can occur in children with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions. It is frequently misdiagnosed or attributed to baseline behavioral patterns, making expert evaluation essential for accurate diagnosis. More on that population is on the genetic and neurodevelopmental conditions page.
What should we expect at the first appointment?
Families begin with a brief ten-minute introductory call before an evaluation is scheduled. The evaluation itself includes a comprehensive psychiatric assessment with particular attention to motor and behavioral examination findings. For children it runs about two hours in two parts, starting with parents or caregivers and then the child. Dr. Kuhn will review medical history and may recommend additional medical or neurological workup when indicated. Visit our Payment & Fees page for details on appointment types and pricing.
What areas does Dr. Kuhn serve?
Dr. Kuhn sees patients in person in Brookline and the Greater Boston area, including Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, and surrounding communities. Telehealth appointments are available for patients throughout Massachusetts, though initial evaluations for catatonia typically benefit from in-person assessment.
Our Location
Brookline, MA 02446
Virtual appointments available throughout Massachusetts
Located on Beacon Street near Coolidge Corner, one mile from Boston Children's Hospital and the Longwood Medical Area.
Start With a 10-Minute Introductory Call
Before scheduling an evaluation, Dr. Kuhn speaks with a parent or caregiver by phone for about ten minutes. It is a chance to describe what is going on, ask about her approach, and decide together whether this practice is the right fit.
Request a 10-Minute Introductory Call