'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABiAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwgQAAIBBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDAQAEBhESIRMiMQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgRAAICAgIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQABREhBkKB/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCtplhhmluThexVtbMZ4IcQr0ZyvfGOpL0+zWnFKU1QMEI0YwUbjvU0pUy+dayjV1OgmhhCPJWIcgnv27+nFTTWJpbN5HblVkHAz//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When someone is awake but doesn't appear to be responding to their surroundings or other people, they are said to be in catatonia. It can have a variety of various effects on someone's behavior, speech, and movement. There are numerous potential causes for it, but the precise cause is unclear, and further study is required in this area.
While the majority of people believe that catatonia is an illness characterized by inactivity, that isn't always the case. Together with abrupt and unpredictable behavior changes, it can also feature excessive or even continual activity.
What Is Catatonia?
This disorder alters the way your brain functions, impairing how you process and respond to the environment. Individuals with this condition frequently don't respond to adjacent events or may respond in ways that seem strange. The most obvious symptoms of this illness include impaired speech, strange movements, and odd conduct.
Trending
Formerly, it was thought to be a form of schizophrenia. As a result, schizophrenia was also identified in patients with catatonia.
However, scientists and medical professionals have subsequently realized that it has unique characteristics and affects patients with mood problems more commonly than schizophrenia.
Signs & Symptoms
DSM-5 states that three out of the 12 symptoms must be present in order to diagnose the condition. It is important to get in touch with a mental health professional to receive an official diagnosis.
If you notice closely, some of these symptoms are common for mental illnesses. However, it is important to be aware of the following signs:
- Stupor (inability to move or react to stimuli while being completely unaware)
- Catalepsy (rigid body posture)
- Mutism (little to no verbal communication)
- Waxy flexibility (body remains in whatever position it is placed by another)
- Negativism (lack of verbal response)
- Posturing (keeping a stance or position that goes against gravity) (holding a posture or position that goes against gravity)
- Mannerisms (extreme or strange gestures and mannerisms)
- Stereotypy (frequent repetitive movements for no reason)
- Agitation (without cause)
- Grimacing (distorted facial expressions)
- Echolalia (Repeating other people's words)
- Echopraxia (Repeating other people's moves)
Rigidity and unquestioning obedience are additional prevalent signs. Stupor may last longer than usual when it is diagnosed with schizophrenia.
What Are The Possible Causes of Catatonia?
Despite nearly 150 years of research, doctors are still unsure of the precise causes. There are, however, a variety of theories that could apply, from chemical imbalances in the brain to inherited genetic conditions.
Experts can only identify potential causes in the absence of a known cause. Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and major depressive disorder are the mental health illnesses that are most frequently accompanied by catatonia.
Between 7 and 38% of admitted psychiatric patients show signs of catatonia. It may accompany autism and is seen in psychiatric patients quite frequently. These connections support the hypothesis that aberrant neurotransmitter communication, particularly in the basal ganglia and cortical areas of the brain, is the root cause.
The neurological basis is still unknown, and it may vary depending on other medical conditions that also co-occur with it. In children, it may be accompanied by developmental problems, such as an intellectual handicap or a pervasive developmental disorder.
Although this may be a consequence of associations with related genetic disorders, including bipolar illness, some parts may be inherited traits.
Treatment of Catatonia
The majority of the time, the medication works, however, it may not work as well in cases of catatonia linked to schizophrenia.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is less frequently utilized since consent from catatonic patients is difficult to come by. Surrogate consent is, however, obtained under the circumstances of possibly fatal conditions.
It alone does not threaten life often. However, it's linked to a higher chance of dying from pneumonia and pulmonary embolism, which occurs when people don't move around much. When catatonia lasts longer or occurs more frequently, it is also more challenging to cure.
The underlying cause is frequently unclear, as there is no way to prevent catatonia. Nonetheless, excessive pharmaceutical use, such as chlorpromazine, should be avoided by catatonic individuals. Misuse of medication may make catatonia symptoms worse.
Catatonic individuals require medical care as soon as possible. This is due to other severe disorders that are emergencies and calls for prompt medical attention may also exhibit signs of this ailment. You might need to take a loved one to the hospital if they exhibit symptoms of the disorder.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
What do you think of this story? Tell us in the comments section below.
