High-Frequency Utilization of the Outpatient Messaging System in a Specialized Outpatient Catatonia Clinic for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Smith, J. R., Sengstack, D. G., McCoy, A. B., Lim, S., Marler, S., Williams, Z. J., Hossain, N., & Luccarelli, J. (2025). High-Frequency Utilization of the Outpatient Messaging System in a Specialized Outpatient Catatonia Clinic for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 35(7), 424-430. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2025.0034

Publication date: 30 Apr 2025 Added to AutiHub: 7 Jul 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

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Authors

Publication authors
8
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 8 (12.5%)

Abstract

Purpose:Catatonia is a highly morbid psychomotor disorder that impacts autistic adults and children. There is very little literature that describes outpatient catatonia management practices, none of which discusses the use of the electronic health record (EHR). Thus, we conducted this study to analyze patient messages in a specialized catatonia clinic. Methods:We conducted a retrospective analysis of messaging practices in the EHR for patients in a specialized clinic with autism and catatonia from July 1, 2021, to May 31, 2024. Catatonic symptom severity was recorded via the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), Kanner Catatonia Severity Scale (KCS), and Kanner Catatonia Examination (KCE). We conducted Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients to determine whether a relationship exists between the frequency of patient messages, catatonic symptoms, and length of follow-up. Results:A total of 12,972 messages were sent to the health system or received by the patient or their family. Of those, 6375 (49.1%) messages were sent from the family to the health system. Relationships between message frequency to the health system and all baseline catatonia severity scores (BFCRS, KCS, KCE) were not statistically significant, although message frequency was strongly associated with length of follow-up (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). A total of 5555 (42.8%) messages were sent directly to or received from providers in the catatonia specialty clinic. The rate of messages to providers in the catatonia clinic was 2.9 messages/day. Conclusion:The frequency of patient messaging was high in this catatonia specialty clinic. Health systems should consider this possibility when planning for similar service lines.

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
34
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
2 / 34 (5.9%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
2 / 240 (0.8%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 2 / 57 (3.5%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 2 / 186 (1.1%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
57 / 240 (23.8%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 28 / 186 (15.1%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
55 / 57 (96.5%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 55 / 240 (22.9%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 26 / 28 (92.9%).
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