Catatonia Mnemonics (Memorable Psychiatry Lecture)

Catatonia is an often-forgotten condition in psychiatry, and sometimes it can feel like a historical relic from the distant past. However, catatonia is still sometimes seen in clinical settings, especially when taking care of severely ill psychiatric patients! For that reason, it’s important to know how to recognize it when it occurs.

Learn more catatonia, including its core signs and symptoms, prognosis, and treatment, in this high-yield talk intended for all healthcare providers, including doctors, medical students, psychologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, and more!

ATTRIBUTIONS
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

“Catatonic grimacing.” Credit: Owald Bumke. Lehrbuch der Geisteskrankheiten, 2nd ed. 1924. (Believed to be in public domain as copyright for photographs and pictures published in Germany expire fifty years after their first publication.)

[therahmanfamily]

I am going through this right now with a family member. God bless you for this knowledge. I am 14 days in and I'm very frustrated with the medical community. No one is helping me and I thank God I found this video.

[michelekisly]

Very important info
Most go UNDIAGNOSED

[trishlarocca]

My son is going through this now. Has a psychotic episode, ended up in a burn unit and is now home and exhibiting almost all of these symptoms. Sees his new psychiatrist on Friday. Fingers crossed.

[Ullish]

It's been just over 4 years since my 2 weeks of Catatonia. I had nearly every classic symptom at one point or another

[afanasymarinov]

E. g. lorazepam should be given with a dose of 20 to 30mg per day. In comparison, non catatonic suicidal patients often receive only 4 to 6mg.

[jamesalexander]

I am trying to find information on catatonia that resembles my experience. I was diagnosed with Primary Psychosis. When I was 11 I was ill for 3 days where I was unable to move, really low energy and barely spoke. The dr said he had never seen anything like it and that it may be swine flu. Ever since I have experienced episodes where my legs stop working causing me to fall down. Sometimes I am unable to get myself up because I can't bear weight on my legs and my arms don't go the direction my brain tells them to. I have had blood tests, echos, an EKG and a CT scan. It's not dehydration or BPPV. Its not fainting or vertigo. Another odd symptom I had was saying yes to anything I am asked immediately without ANY thought at all. I saw some mention of this symptom in regards to catatonia, but I am getting frustrated trying to figure this out. I also deal with excessive movement (pacing), repetitive movements (grabbing shirt or moving hands and arms) that are very apparent to even strangers. I asked in a psychosis subreddit and they said it does seem like catatonia but I want to find examples of other people with a situation like mine.

[drkumarvivekanand]

I was always intrigued by the movie Awakenings, can you put some light on that, how accurate it was or what was the case medically ?

[laurieberry]

I have hypothyroidism.
Can hypothyroidism cause this? I am exhausted. Maybe I need a higher dosage of levothyroxine.

[dylancarey]

Possibility of neurocognitive d/o video?

[day]

I have two autistic students with all these symptoms what can I do to improve these behaviors

[Hteyasizyc]

Step into our modern world and all these symptoms become present. Especially the facial bert stare.

[aidoll]

The way i looked this up because of a character

[lilouaurore]

according to medical literature it has been concluded that the syndrome catatonia is caused by three types of issues: dysfunctional neurotransmitters and or oxidative stress in cells and or infections (encephalitis), such infections are most likely the most prevalent source of catatonia - rendering this video OBSOLETE

[asavapowell]

this sounds inhumaine.... *sobs* why dont we let them ...im srry, but just...you know. rest in peace? and again, i just find this just so horrifiyng. no disrespect. :/