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Catatonic Disorders: A Case Study

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Description and Diagnosis
Catatonic disorders are classified under the DSM-5 Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders section. These disorders are defined by abnormalities in one or more of the following five domains. They include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior (including catatonia), and negative symptoms. Catatonia is a condition that can occur in the situation of several disorders, including neurodevelopmental, psychotic, bipolar, depressive disorders, and other medical conditions (e.g. rare autoimmune disorders). The DSM-5 does not treat catatonia as an independent class, but recognizes catatonia as being associated with other mental disorders (e.g., psychotic …show more content…

The DSM-5 also recognizes catatonia as due to another medical condition and unspecified catatonia. Catatonia is characterized by a psychomotor (mental processes and physical movement) disturbance that may involve decreased motor activity, dismissiveness during an interview or physical examination, or excessive or strange motor activity. The psychomotor disturbance in an individual may range from being unresponsive to agitated. Motor immobility and dismissiveness may be severe or moderate. Excessive and strange motor behaviors may be simple or complex. In some cases, an individual may alternate between decreased and excessive motor activity. The opposing clinical features of this diagnosis contribute to a lack of awareness and decreased recognition of catatonia. Individuals exhibiting severe stages of catatonia may need supervision from a caretaker to avoid harming themselves or others. Furthermore, catatonia has potential risks, which include exhaustion, …show more content…

Catatonia associated with another mental disorder (catatonia specifier) may be applied when criteria are met for catatonia during the course of a psychotic, neurological, depressive, bipolar, or other mental health disorders. The catatonia specifier is appropriate to use when the individual has characteristics of psychomotor disturbance and involves at least 3 of the 12 diagnostic features indicated in the DSM-5. Some of the diagnostic features include not actively relating to the environment, motionlessness maintained over a long period of time, resistance to positioning by the examiner, opposition to instructions, and inappropriate posture maintained over a long period of time. Individuals with this disorder may alos exhibit a detailed caricature of normal actions, repetitive movements, agitation, disapproving facial expressions, and mimicking another individual’s speech and movements. The majority of catatonia cases involve individuals with bipolar and depressive disorders. However, up to 35% of individuals with catatonia have schizophrenia and are usually diagnosed in inpatient settings. Catatonia can occur as a side effect of medications. Before any of the disorders related to the catatonia specifier can be diagnosed, a variety of other medical conditions need to be ruled out. More information on this condition is found in the Medication-Induced Medical Disorders and Other Adverse Effects

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