Question: What Is Catatonia?
Answer: Catatonia is a condition characterized by psychomotor disturbance, an interruption of normal movement. Catatonic features can occur with major depression, bipolar disorder I and II, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia. In some cases, catatonia may also be an extreme side effect of a medication.
Possible Presentations:
- Stupor - lack of response to external stimuli, e.g., no response to being spoken to or prodded
- Catalepsy - muscular rigidity, so that the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed.
- Excessive motor activity with no purpose
- Extreme negativism - resistance to movement or instruction
- Mutism - being unable or unwilling to speak
- Inappropriate postures and grimacing
- Echolalia - parrot-like repetition of a word or phrase just spoken by another person
- Echopraxia - repetitive imitation of the movements of another person
Complications caused by this condition:
- Malnutrition
- Exhaustion
- Self-inflicted injury
