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Catatonia

Psychotic Features of Bipolar I Disorder

By Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse, About.com

Updated: June 20, 2006

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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 - parrotlike 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

  • Hyperpyrexia - an extremely high fever

  • Self-inflicted injury

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Bipolar Disorder

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