Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of CatalepsyIdentificationCausesTreatmentsHow to Cope

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Signs of Catalepsy

Identification

Causes

Treatments

How to Cope

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Catalepsy involves a loss of voluntary motion, muscle rigidity, fixed posture, and decreased sensitivity to pain. It is a symptom of a number of conditions including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, substance use,catatonia,schizophrenia, and as a side effect of some types of medication used to treat schizophrenia.

This article discusses some of the signs that someone is experiencing catalepsy, the conditions that may cause this symptom, and how it might be treated.

Some of the signs of catalepsy include:

Waxy flexibility is associated with conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. People experiencing this symptom only slightly resist having their body or limbs moved into a different position. The individual will then remain in this new position without making any attempts to reposition the body.

People who are experiencing catalepsy are less sensitive not only to pain but to touch in general. When a person is experiencing this symptom, they seem non-responsive and do not respond to speech.

Identifying Catalepsy

If a person is experiencing catalepsy, a doctor may observe this symptom and consider a person’s medical history and other symptoms in order to make a diagnosis. A doctor may perform a physical exam and run lab tests to look at factors that may be contributing to a person’s symptoms.

The diagnosis that a doctor makes will depend on what other symptoms a person is experiencing. For example, a person who experiences catalepsy along withecholalia,stupor, andmutismmight be diagnosed with catatonia.

Causes of Catalepsy

Catalepsy is not a distinct condition in and of itself but is instead a symptom of some types of nervous disorders and other conditions. Some of the conditions that may cause catalepsy include:

According to a 2013 study, catalepsy results from the blockage of certain dopamine receptors in the neural circuits associated with motor behavior.

It can also occur as a side effect of some antipsychotic medications that are used to treat schizophrenia andbipolar disorder, including haloperidol. This side effect can play a role in medication adherence for people with schizophrenia.

Treatment for Catalepsy

Some treatments that might be used to help ease catalepsy include:

Research has also indicated that adenosine antagonists might be useful in the treatment of haloperidol-induced catalepsy. In one study, caffeine, a non-selective adenosine antagonist, was found to significantly reduce catalepsy and improve movement.

One 2018 study found that deep brain stimulation (DBS) was effective in relieving haloperidol-induced catalepsy in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.Deep brain stimulationis a surgical technique in which a device is implanted inn specific areas of the brain in order to deliver small electrical shocks.

What Is the Striatum?The striatum is an area of the brain that plays a vital role in facilitating voluntary movement. The striatum directs information and instructions to the basal ganglia, which then initiates movement.

What Is the Striatum?

The striatum is an area of the brain that plays a vital role in facilitating voluntary movement. The striatum directs information and instructions to the basal ganglia, which then initiates movement.

According to the results of the research, a key protein known as mTOR plays a pivotal role in dopamine 2 signaling. When this protein is over-produced or under-produced in the brain’s striatum, it can contribute to serious disorders and problems such as catalepsy.

While promising, it is important to note that more research is needed to better understand how such treatments might be best utilized.

Coping With Catalepsy

If you believe someone is experiencing catalepsy, you should seek medical attention. Catalepsy can be potentially dangerous and a person exhibiting signs should be evaluated to help ensure their safety. A healthcare provider can then determine what might be contributing to this symptom and provide treatments that can help.

A Word From Verywell

Catalepsy can be a serious and concerning symptom of a number of health conditions. If you or someone you love is experiencing this symptom, your first step should be to seek medical attention for the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

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5 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Rasmussen SA, Mazurek MF, Rosebush PI.Catatonia: Our current understanding of its diagnosis, treatment and pathophysiology.World J Psychiatry. 2016;6(4):391-398. doi:10.5498/wjp.v6.i4.391

Colombo AC, de Oliveira AR, Reimer AE, Brandão ML.Dopaminergic mechanisms underlying catalepsy, fear and anxiety: do they interact?Behav Brain Res. 2013 Nov 15;257:201-7. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2013.10.002

Trevitt J, Vallance C, Harris A, Goode T.Adenosine antagonists reverse the cataleptic effects of haloperidol: implications for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2009;92(3):521-7. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2009.02.001

Ramírez-Jarquín, U.N., Shahani, N., Pryor, W. et al.The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase mediates haloperidol-induced cataleptic behavior.Transl Psychiatry.2020;10;336. doi:10.1038/s41398-020-01014-x

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