Home > Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders > Catatonia

Definition

Catatonia is a disturbance of motor behavior that can have either a psychological or neurological cause. Its most well-known form involves a rigid, immobile position that is held by a person for a considerable length of time— often days, weeks, or longer. It can also refer to agitated, purposeless motor activity that is not stimulated by something in the environment. A less extreme form of catatonia involves very slowed motor activity. Often, the physical posture of a catatonic individual is unusual and/or inappropriate, and the individual may hold a posture if placed in it by someone else. According to the handbook used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, 4th Edition, Text Revision, also known as the DSM-IV-TR, some 5–9% of all...