COMA-CATATONIA

SUMMARY

1. Catatonia is a state of stupor & neurogenic motor immobility associated with psychiatric states such as schizophrenia, depression, PTSD, and drug abuse.

2. Patients with catatonia are unresponsive, although they preserve oculocephalic responses (doll's eyes).

3. Some patients display a waxy flexibility of passive limb movement and hold uncomfortable limb postures for long periods (catalepsy).

4. Peculiar motor mannerisms or repetitive motions, seen in a number of these patients, can give the impression of seizures.

5. There are no signs of structural brain disease.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].