Catatonia

About Catatonia

Catatonia is a syndrome of marked psychomotor disturbance first described in detail by the German psychiatrist Karl Kahlbaum in 1874. Features can include stupor, mutism, staring, posturing, rigidity, resistance to instructions, echoing the speech or movements of others, and in some cases excessive purposeless activity. Although it was long linked mainly with schizophrenia, it is now recognized to occur with mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder and depression, with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, and with many general medical and neurological conditions. DSM-5 treats it as a specifier that can be attached to several disorders as well as a diagnosis due to another medical condition, and ICD-11 lists it as a separate grouping. Catatonia can lead to serious complications such as dehydration, blood clots and a severe malignant form, so it is treated as a medical priority. It often responds well to benzodiazepines, and electroconvulsive therapy is used when needed.