Catatonic Schizophrenia Disorder

There are three common forms of Schizophrenia - they are paranoid, catatonic, and disorganized. While there are other types of schizophrenia that one can be diagnosed with, those are the three most common forms. in addition, there is undifferentiated (when the other three’s criteria cannot be met) and residual, where positive symptoms of schizophrenia (i.e the hallucinations and delusions) are very very low. There is also simple schizophrenia, which is all the negative symptoms with no history of positive symptoms, and post-schizophrenic depression, or the period of of depression after a psychotic episode of schizophrenia where low-level symptoms may still be present.

Catatonic schizophrenia varies from other forms of schizophrenia. The symptoms are:

According to the DSM-IV, the “With catatonic features” specifier can be applied if the clinical picture is dominated by at least two of the following:

• Motor immobility as evidenced by catalepsy (including waxy flexibility) or stupor
• Excessive motor activity (purposeless, not influenced by external stimuli)
• Extreme negativism (motiveless resistance to all instructions or maintenance of a rigid posture against attempts to be moved) or mutism
• Peculiarities of voluntary movement as evidenced by posturing, stereotyped movements, prominent mannerisms, or prominent grimacing
• Echolalia or echopraxia

Sub-types

Stupor is a motionless, apathetic state in which one is oblivious or does not react to external stimuli. Motor activity is nearly non-existent. Individuals in this state make little or no eye contact with others and may be mute and rigid. One might remain in one position for a long period of time, and then go directly to another position immediately after the first position.

Catatonic excitement is a state of constant purposeless agitation and excitation. Individuals in this state are extremely hyperactive, although, as aforementioned, the activity seems to lack purpose. It is commonly cited as one of the most dangerous mental states in psychiatry.

Malignant catatonia is an acute onset of excitement, fever, autonomic instability, delirium and may be fatal.

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