What is catatonia, its causes, symptoms and treatment methods


Catatonia is a symptom associated with some psychological disorders that affect some individuals. Catatonia is characterized by stiffness and rigidity for a short period without the ability to speak or respond to others, making the person appear as if they are "dead" even though they are alive. Catatonia affects about 1 in 10 people with a psychological disorder. Let's Dalili Medical learn more about this disease in the following article

**How ​​is a catatonia patient identified?**

 

Caatonia is diagnosed by observing some clinical signs, most notably muteness and immobility, in addition to stupor and freezing.

**Can catatonia lead to death?**

 

Although catatonia itself does not cause death, the psychological disorders associated with it may lead to risks such as suicide.

**Can catatonia be cured?**

 

Yes, there are many medications used to treat catatonia, including sedatives, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, painkillers, and antipsychotic medications.

**What causes the mind to freeze?**

 

A state of freezing occurs in response to severe stress, making a person unable to think or act.

**How ​​should a catatonia patient be treated?**

 

Catatonia is a complex psychological illness that requires medical intervention. Therefore, it is best not to try to treat the patient by ordinary people, even if they are close to him. It is advisable to refer the patient to a psychologist to undergo appropriate treatment.

**What is the difference between catatonia and catatonia?**

 

Catatonia is a symptom that appears in some neurological disorders or diseases such as epilepsy and schizophrenia, where the patient's movement freezes and he loses the ability to move voluntarily. As for catatonia, it is an independent psychomotor disorder, and is considered a complex clinical syndrome that affects more than 10% of patients with severe mental illnesses, and is associated with multiple complications that may threaten life.

**Does catatonia affect a certain age group?**

 

Women are more susceptible to catatonia, especially in the young age group. This disease usually appears in the age group between 18 and 25 years.

**What are the complications of catatonia?**

 

- Hunger and dehydration.

- Increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and death from pulmonary embolism.

- Increased risk of self-harm or suicide, or harming others during the excited catatonia stage.

- Possibility of reaching the stage of malignant catatonia and the possibility of death if not treated.

What is catatonia?

 

Catatonia is a psychological disorder known as catatonia or rigidity, and is considered a form of catatonic schizophrenia. This disease leads to loss of will, as the person becomes unable to perform any action or response. If moved, he moves, if seated, he sits, and if stopped, he remains standing, and he also remains in place without moving for no matter how long. A catatonic patient is considered a person who has lost his will, as his control depends on the people around him.

When a person suffers from catatonia, it indicates that he suffers from a group of psychological disorders that led him to this condition

Is catatonia a mental illness?

 

Catatonia is not a mental illness, but rather a syndrome, as catatonia is not a mental illness in itself, but rather a neuropsychiatric syndrome, meaning that it is a group of symptoms that can occur in various mental health conditions, as well as in some medical and neurological disorders. Catatonia is usually associated with mood disorders such as: bipolar disorder and depression, and can also be seen in psychotic disorders, medical conditions, and neurological problems, and it is necessary to determine the underlying cause of catatonia in order to develop an effective treatment plan.

What is the behavior of a catatonic patient?

 

Catatonia is characterized by a variety of abnormal behaviors, which may vary greatly from one person to another. It is important to note that not all individuals suffering from catatonia will show all of these symptoms. Behaviors of catatonia include:

**Immobility and withdrawal:**

- **Stunned:** Lack of movement, speech, and response to stimuli.

- **Rigidity:** Maintaining a fixed and rigid position for long periods.

- **Waxy flexibility:** Allowing others to place parts of the body in certain positions and keeping them in that position.

- **Muteness:** Inability to speak or refusal to speak.

**Excessive movement and agitation:**

- **Agitation:** Increased motor activity without a clear purpose.

- **Stereotypy:** Repetitive movements without purpose.

- **Echolalia:** Repeating words or phrases spoken by others.

**Other behaviors of catatonia:**

- **Passiveness:** Resisting instructions or attempts to move.

- **Posture:** Maintaining unusual or strange body positions.

- **Grimace:** Creating distortions in facial features.

Types of Catatonia:

Catatonia is divided into three types:

. **Due to a birth defect**: This is the most common type, where the person suffers from a birth defect that no one has a hand in, which leads to slow movement and loss of the ability to speak.

. **Due to damage that occurred**:   A person may be exposed to a certain damage that leads to catatonia or immobility, accompanied by an increase in heart rate, delirium, and high blood pressure.

. **Due to exposure to emotion**:   A person may be exposed to severe emotion that leads to catatonia, in which case, it is accompanied by extreme intensity and anger.

**Motor catatonia** Motor catatonia is the most common, where the patient appears to stare into space and does not respond when spoken to. If a response occurs, it is simply a repetition of what others say. Sometimes, the patient sits or lies in an abnormal position without any movement.

**Excited catatonia** In this type of catatonia, the person may move, but the movement is aimless and impulsive, making the person appear agitated or delirious. In some cases, the movement is simply imitating or mimicking people.Around him.

**Malignant catatonia** This stage of the disease appears when the symptoms lead to other health problems, such as dangerous changes in blood pressure, body temperature, breathing, or heart rate. Also, a person who suffers from immobility for a long time may be more susceptible to problems such as dehydration, blood clots, or kidney failure as a result of these symptoms.

Causes of catatonia:

Caatonia is often the result of genetic factors, and often appears as a symptom accompanying other diseases, whether psychological, physical, or mental. There are some diseases that may lead to the emergence of catatonia, the most prominent of which are:

- **Bipolar disorder**: It is a condition characterized by fluctuations between manic episodes and depressive episodes, as catatonia symptoms can appear during periods of depression associated with this disorder.

- **Severe depression**: In cases of severe depression, catatonia symptoms may appear, as the individual feels a decrease in energy, his movement is restricted, and he may face difficulties in communicating.

– **Neurologic diseases**: A person may be exposed to neurologic diseases such as encephalopathy, which leads to symptoms such as catatonia or catatonia.

– **Metabolic conditions**: A person may suffer from metabolic conditions, such as high blood calcium levels or severe vitamin deficiency, which leads to symptoms of catatonia or catatonia.

– **Alcohol and drug addiction**: Alcohol or drug addiction may contribute to the appearance of symptoms of catatonia or catatonia in a person.

– **Psychological diseases**: Symptoms of catatonia or catatonia may be the result of a mental illness, such as depression or schizophrenia.

– **Exposure to psychological trauma**: A person may be exposed to psychological or nervous trauma, which leads to symptoms of catatonia or catatonia or catatonia.

**Medications**: Some psychotropic drugs may cause symptoms similar to catatonia. Catatonia may occur as a result of incorrect adjustment of the dose of these medications or their use for long periods.

Symptoms of Catatonia:

1. **Difficulty moving**: Weakness of movement and slow response are the most prominent symptoms of catatonia, where the affected person appears to be floating in space.

2. **Staying in a fixed position**: A common sign of catatonia is that the person remains sitting in one place for long periods without any movement or response.

3. **Delirium**: The affected person suffers from delirium, which makes him unable to speak in an understandable language.

4. **High temperature**: The disease may lead to an increase in body temperature, which causes fever.

**How ​​is catatonia diagnosed?**

 

Catatonia is usually diagnosed after a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist or neurologist. The diagnosis process takes into account the onset, severity, frequency, and other associated features of the symptoms. The following are some of the methods used to diagnose catatonia:

- **Clinical assessment:** A health professional evaluates the general health status of the individual suffering from catatonia symptoms, focusing on factors such as the onset, duration, and severity of the symptoms.

- **Mental status examination:** The psychological examination provides information about an individual's thought processes, perceptions, emotional state, and other cognitive functions.

- **Medical history and physical examination:** A medical history is collected and a physical examination is performed to rule out organic factors that may be causing the symptoms of catatonia. A neurological examination aims to evaluate neurological disorders or brain lesions.

- **Laboratory tests:** Blood tests and other laboratory tests may be used to evaluate thyroid function, electrolyte balance, and other potential physical health problems.

- **Imaging tests:** Brain imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be used to provide additional information about the condition.

What is catatonic depression?

 

Catatonic depression is a severe form of depression characterized by abnormal motor behavior, and is considered a subtype of major depressive disorder (MDD), in which individuals experience symptoms related to both types of depression.

Symptoms of Catatonic Depression** People with catatonic depression typically experience a combination of the following symptoms:

- Symptoms of depression: These include feelings of sadness and hopelessness, worthlessness, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite and sleep, feeling tired, difficulty concentrating, and thoughts of death or suicide.

Treatment of catatonic depression**

Treatment of catatonic depression usually involves a combination of the following options:

- Medications: Antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines may be prescribed to manage symptoms of depression and catatonia.

- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): This treatment is often effective in severe cases of catatonic depression.

- Psychotherapy: After the acute phase of the disease has passed, psychotherapy can help individuals better understand and manage depression.

**Can catatonia be treated without a doctor?**

 

No, treatment of catatonia is based on two main steps. The first step involves taking a set of medications that should be determined by a doctor based on his assessment of the condition. The second step, if the body does not respond to medications, is to resort to electroshock sessions, which is a procedure that cannot be performed without medical supervision. It is necessary to consult a specialist psychiatrist to avoid any possible complications.

**How ​​is catatonia treated?**

 

The treatment of catatonia varies based on the individual symptoms and the underlying causes. Treatment usually requires a multidisciplinary approach and should be done under the supervision of a specialist psychiatrist or neurologist.

**Treatment of the underlying cause**

If catatonia is a symptom of a mental disorder, treating this disorder is the priority. Conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression are treated with appropriate medications

**Treatment of catatonia with medications**

- **Benzodiazepines**: They are often the first choice for treatment, as they are considered similar medicationsLorazepam is particularly effective in relieving the symptoms of catatonia.

- **Antipsychotics**: They can be used in conjunction with benzodiazepines.

**Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)** ECT is an effective option for managing emergencies that do not respond to drug therapy. It is particularly used in cases of severe depression and severe convulsions.

**Treatment of catatonia with supportive care**

- **Close monitoring**: Patients with catatonia require close monitoring of vital signs, in addition to providing the necessary hydration and nutrition.

- **Safe environment**: Ensuring a safe and calm environment for patients is essential, as this is of utmost importance.

- **Physiotherapy**: Physiotherapy can help prevent complications resulting from immobility.

**Treatment**

Individual, group, or family therapy can enhance the emotional and social skills of individuals with paralysis. These therapies are effective in addressing the underlying psychological and social factors.

**Hospitalization**Hospitalization may be considered when the catalepsy is severe or when urgent intervention is required. This is necessary to ensure the safety of the individual and to initiate effective treatment.

**Physical rehabilitation**Muscle weakness occurs as a result of lack of movement. Physical therapy and rehabilitation programs can help improve the individual’s physical health and activity.