Catatonic Schizophrenia Symptoms

A severe brain disorder that causes one to hallucinate and become delusional, leading to withdraw from the society, is called schizophrenia. This is a chronic condition that affects over 2 million American men and women of all ages. There are many types of schizophrenia that are distinguished according to the symptoms exhibited. We shall focus on catatonic schizophrenia symptoms in the following paragraphs and understand the behavior of patients suffering with this mental disorder.

What is Catatonic Schizophrenia
Catatonic schizophrenia is a chronic mental illness, where the patient interprets reality abnormally. Catatonic schizophrenia leads to extreme behavior, like either the person is over excited or hyperactive and involuntarily imitates others in the form of sounds or movements. On the other hand, the person may be unable to speak, respond or even move. Catatonic schizophrenia has become a rare form of schizophrenia due to the treatments available for this mental disorders. Catatonic schizophrenia can occur with other forms of mental illnesses. Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms can be managed to a great extent with effective treatment.

Catatonic Schizophrenia Causes
The catatonic schizophrenia causes are not clearly understood as yet. Most of the evidence available today, points towards brain dysfunction as the cause of catatonic schizophrenia and other types of schizophrenia. The reasons for the brain dysfunction are still disputable and under investigation. Many suggest that genetic and environmental factors may be playing a role in brain dysfunction. The neurotransmitters in the brain develop chemical imbalances leading to catatonic schizophrenia.

Symptoms of Catatonic Schizophrenia
The symptoms include immobility, to such extent that the person can hold their body in an extremely rigid position for a really long time. This position is maintained by the affected person for hours, days, weeks and even months on end! This is called akinesia, that is absence of any physical movement. The symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia also include agitated movements that are totally unrelated to the person's environment. This condition is called catatonia. In case of less extreme catatonic schizophrenia symptoms, the person shows slow motor activity. These people may hold on to a position for a long time in a way that looks as if someone else has placed them in it.

Catatonic schizophrenia symptoms include assuming a position that may feel uncomfortable to the observer. For example, the person may stand on one leg as if mimicking a stork for hours on end. This kind of behavior is called catatonic positioning. If the arm or leg of that person is moved by the observer, the patient will continue to maintain the new position for long hours. This condition is known as waxy flexibility.

Other extreme symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia include extreme activity. The person tends to look unconnected to his surroundings or environment. He may run up and down the stairs continuously or carry out bizarre, useless actions repeatedly. On the other side, the person may show extreme case of slow motor activity, that is catatonic stupor. They show negativism and resist all attempts to move them and show no interest in understanding the requests made by the observer. The person may even show echolalia, that is repeatedly say a word spoken by someone else. They also show echopraxia, that is, imitate movements or gestures carried out by someone else.

Other symptoms and signs include:

• Development of a mindset or belief that is not based on reality, that is, delusional
• Hallucination related to voices speaking or seeing things that are not happening
• Incoherent speech
• Personal hygiene takes a backseat
• Shows no emotions or lack of them
• Exhibition of emotions that are inappropriate for the situation
• Sudden angry outbursts
• Trouble at work or school
• Uncoordinated, clumsy movements
• Person develops social isolation

Catatonic Schizophrenia Treatment
The catatonic schizophrenia symptoms depend on the underlying causes. The patient may be hospitalized as he may prove to be a danger to himself and others. The patient is given pharmacological and psycho-therapeutic medications. Manic episodes are treated with stabilizers like lithium and valproic acid. Depressive episodes are given antidepressant medications for treatment. Supportive psychotherapy and family education helps in building a strong support group for the patient.

Catatonic schizophrenia prognosis shows it is a debilitating condition for life. The symptoms usually appear during adolescence. The initial symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia are triggered by drug abuse, leaving home for studies or military service, loss of a really closed love one, etc that affect mental health. After successful catatonic schizophrenia treatment, many patients suffer from a relapse after about 5 years of being diagnosed with the condition. Most of the catatonic schizophrenia symptoms due to drug or medication abuse can be reversed by stopping the use of the drug.

This was all about this chronic lifelong, mental disorder catatonic schizophrenia. If you observe any symptoms in someone you know, ask them to seek medical help. The person may believe they don't need any help or have no mental disorder. But, you need to take them for a check up and help them with proper treatment. There are many treatment programs that are extremely beneficial to control the symptoms of schizophrenia. Hope the above paragraphs on symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia have helped you understand the condition better.