Will You Be the Same Again Catatonic Depression
You might have heard the term catatonia earlier. But what exactly is catatonic behavior? Is there whatever one thing which causes it, or are there multiple potential causes? Is it harmful, either in the short or the long term? Those are the questions that we shall explore as we examine this potentially agonizing phenomenon.
What Is Catatonic Behavior?
The terms "catatonia" and "catatonic behavior" are sometimes used interchangeably. They refer to when a person has a significant subtract in their reactive behavior to their environment. Usually, when a person is exhibiting catatonic beliefs, then you will observe motor rigidity in them, negativism, mutism, or stupor. Still, while most people think of those who are catatonic as being dead to the globe, sometimes they will also show a kind of purposeless excitement. There is no doubtfulness that these symptoms can be debilitating for the person who is exhibiting them as well every bit frightening for their family and friends.
What Causes It?
Several different conditions can pb to catatonic behavior. Some of them include major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. People with schizophrenia can develop the symptoms from fourth dimension to time, and certain other medical atmospheric condition and medications tin besides exist the crusade. Let's look at some of the symptoms associated with the condition.
Stupor
This is what comes into well-nigh people's minds when they hear the expression "catatonic." A person who has gone into a stupor might appear to be awake, or at least their eyes may be open fifty-fifty if they are nonresponsive. Their eyes might exist closed likewise. Their trunk will likely appear rigid, as though they are potent equally a board. They do non seem equally though they could move or fifty-fifty blink. They don't speak or respond, no matter how much others effectually them are prompting them to do so. If it is not treated, this can last for hours or even days. The sooner y'all can become a catatonic person examined by a doctor, the better.
Involuntary Movements
Catania tin also manifest with the individual performing foreign involuntary movements. They might stay in what seem to be extremely uncomfortable positions for hours at a time with no urge to motility into a more natural posture.
A catatonic person might repeat a series of seemingly irrational movements, or they might brand exclamations that seem to have no exterior stimulus every bit a cause. They might pace in a repeated design and become agitated if they are interrupted. In that location may likewise be parrot-like repetitions of words or phrases. This is what is called echolalia.
Other Symptoms Associated With Schizophrenia
Those individuals who have schizophrenia and brandish catatonic symptoms can also have several other ones that will likely be alarming both to themselves and to anyone who might be observing them. They may accept a decreased power to limited emotions. They might take social difficulties and issues with cocky-care. They are probable to take cognitive problems. Delusions and hallucinations are also possible.
Getting A Diagnosis
If someone is displaying catatonic symptoms, then schizophrenia is one of the first things that is going to be suspected because of the way that one then frequently goes with the other. All the same, as we mentioned, certain other conditions can lead to information technology. But how can a dr. get most making a diagnosis equally to what's causing it?
A series of psychological evaluations and medical tests are going to exist necessary before a doctor can say with any certainty what is happening with someone who is catatonic. There is no particular lab test that tin say for sure whether a person is catatonic or not. Instead, the doctor volition make that pronouncement based on an private's deportment.
Tests will be run first to rule out some of the more obvious possibilities, like drugs or booze. If the person hasn't been using either of those, and so some neurological tests should occur adjacent. An EEG and an MRI are standard practice for someone who has become catatonic. A lesion in the encephalon might be causing it, or unusual brainwave patterns.
The psychiatric evaluation will as well feature a portion where the doctor asks the person a series of questions. They'll need to wait to do this until the symptoms of catatonia have subsided to the point where the individual is lucid. The doctor will likely ask things like how long the symptoms have been going on and whether there is whatsoever history of this sort of affair taking place with other family unit members. At that place is some bear witness of family history playing a office in the trend to brandish catatonic symptoms.
The Danger Of Misdiagnosis Exists
There is certainly a danger of misdiagnosis with catatonia. The problem is the mode that it wreaks havoc with the motor functions of the human body. This can make catatonia announced similar something else, such every bit Tourette's Syndrome or tardive dyskinesia. A doc may need to take days or weeks earlier they are accurately able to classify someone every bit catatonic.
Medication
The most common ways of treating someone who is catatonic are through the administration of various drugs. There are benzodiazepines like Ativan that seem to produce some expert results. They care for the central nervous system, and people with anxiety are prime candidates for them. They are fast-interim drugs, so someone who is catatonic might exist able to shake off the symptoms rather quickly when they start using them. However, anybody's physiology is dissimilar, and then you shouldn't look anyone result. For some individuals, relief might be longer in coming.
At that place is a debate near the use of antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of catatonia. In rare cases, they might make the symptoms worse. This, unfortunately, is something that goes forth with medical science. Just because something works for x people, or twenty, in that location are still always going to be outliers. Still, the best matter is to try what has worked for the bulk of others and to promise for the all-time. At that place are some other options if antipsychotics don't work.
ECT
ECT was one time known every bit electroshock therapy. Information technology is another possibility for someone who is catatonic, though doctors usually only like to try it if other attempts at reviving the person accept failed. The thought is that a jolt to the central nervous system will allow the person'southward brain to "reset." A low dosage volition be used to be every bit noninvasive every bit possible for the private. That's usually enough to awaken the person from their state and get them back to lucidity so that other tests can be run with their cooperation.
How Harmful Is Catatonia?
As for how harmful catatonia is, that's not an like shooting fish in a barrel question to answer because the condition can accept several unlike forms or manifest with multiple symptoms. In and of itself, catatonia should not exist thought of as harmful. The rigidity should subside in fourth dimension, and the person should become enlightened of their surroundings again. The administration of drugs or other treatments should speed upwards the process.
However, there is ever the instance that if the catatonic person is up and engaging in a series of repetitive movements that they might run into something and damage themselves because they are not fully aware of their surroundings. That is why, if you take a family unit member or friend who has go catatonic, then you need to lookout them closely till a doctor can examine them. It is non inconceivable that they might damage themselves or those around them if you exercise non exercise circumspection. It's all-time to try and proceed them calm until medical help tin be summoned.
The Furnishings Of Catatonia On A Family unit
A person who has become catatonic does not do so for no reason. There might exist several medical reasons for what is happening, but while you're waiting to figure out what is going on, you are no doubt going to be highly concerned about your loved i.
The affair to do is to try and not jump to any conclusions well-nigh what is happening. Yes, the symptoms of catatonia tin can be frightening since you don't know what'south behind it till later on a physician's examination. In well-nigh cases, though, a grade of treatment volition exist discovered that volition alleviate the symptoms and get the person back to their old self over again. The condition is understood at this point better than information technology ever was before, and in that location are many more options than at that place in one case were when it comes to treatment and medication.
Has Someone You Know Become Catatonic?
If yous accept firsthand experience with catatonia because someone y'all know is experiencing it, then yous need to be sure and get them medical assistance. Once that is accomplished, you lot can await to hear from a doctor about what is most likely happening with them. Be patient as you're waiting for diagnosis since it might not come immediately, due to their being multiple possible reasons for the condition.
Once you know what's happening with the person in your life who is catatonic, you lot might have some feelings about it and desire to talk over information technology. Y'all tin can talk to a mental health professional and get some of your emotions out in the open. Knowing someone who has become catatonic can be scary or intimidating, but chances are it's not going to prove to be annihilation life-threatening.
Source: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/behavior/catatonic-behavior-what-causes-it-and-how-harmful-is-it/