Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental illnesses. Catatonic schizophrenia is its less common variation, characterized by a sharp change in periods of apathy and arousal. Moreover, during the apathy period, rigid immobility is observed (despite the fact that the muscles of the limbs do not perform motor functions, they are tense, and therefore the patient's limbs are stiff). During the period of excitement, the patient talks a lot and loudly, makes random movements with his hands, can move aimlessly, nervously look around.
Unlike many other types of schizophrenia, this is easily treated with medication.
The main companion of catatonic schizophrenia is the catatonic syndrome, which is a mental disorder, the main manifestation of which is a violation of motor function. More precisely, this disorder is not a single syndrome, but a whole group. Like any other mental illness, catatonic syndrome progresses as it develops, and treatment is the simplest and fastest at the initial stage of the disease. That is why it is so important to be able to recognize the first symptoms of catatonia and to sound the alarm.
So, this syndrome has two stages: catatonic agitation and catatonic stupor. It is their change that characterizes him.
Catatonic arousal can take three forms.
The first - pathetic - is characterized by moderate excitement, high mood. Possible causeless laughter and the presence of pathos in speech. Consciousness is not clouded.
The second - impulsive - is characterized by a sharp increase in excitation. The movements are chaotic, destructive, often violent. The speech is disturbed, consists of separate, often incoherent phrases. Upon reaching the peak of arousal, patients become silent, and their actions become self-destructive.
The third form - silent - is characterized by a complete lack of speech, the presence of aggression, and chaotic and destructive actions.
Catatonic stupor also has more than one form - there are four of them.
The first form, also called a submandid condition, is not a stupor in the usual sense of the word and therefore may not be recognized by an inexperienced person. It is characterized by slow movement, impaired speech, its slowdown. This form is the first stage of the disease and, as a rule, is combined with the first form of arousal.
The catatonic stupor of the second form, also called cataleptic or Celsius disease, is characterized by the so-called
"wax flexibility". The patient freezes in any position, often - uncomfortable. Does not respond to attempts to speak with him, leaves the stupor only in silence.
The third form - a negative stupor - is characterized in that the patient resists the attempts of others to change the pose in which he froze. Even weak people can show strong resistance.
The fourth form - a catatonic stupor with a stupor - has the greatest severity. Patients most often congeal in the fetal position, may not go out of a stupor for a long time.