Categories

Everything You Need to Know about Catatonia

Catatonia is a psychomotor disorder, psychomotor explains that it involves the connection between mental function and movement, it is a group of symptoms that usually involve lack of movement and communication, it can also cause other symptoms like confusion, restlessness, and agitation. Catatonia makes it difficult for one to move in a normal way. However, rather than not being able to move, some people with catatonia can also exhibit excessive movement. Catatonia formally used to be mistaken for been a type of schizophrenia, but further study has shown that other mental illness and some condition can throw off your body’s metabolism also can make you catatonic.

There is no particular say to how long catatonia can last, it may last for just a few hours, to days, weeks, months, or years. It may also not remain in the body permanently rather it can frequently reoccur for weeks to years after you have experienced the first episode. Catatonia can be treated especially if it is discovered quickly, the disorder has some signs and symptoms one should look out for. However, its not in all cases that one experiences the symptoms before it attacks. If the symptom of catatonia is identifiable then it is called extrinsic and if not, it is called intrinsic.

Organic causes

Studies have shown that people with chronic catatonia may have brain abnormalities. Experts believe that having excess or lack of neurotransmitters causes catatonia. Neurotransmitter are brain chemicals that carry messages from one neuron to another. When it is lacking or in excess it affects the functionality of the brain thereby increasing the risk of catatonia.

One theory is that a sudden reduction in dopamine, causes catatonia. Another theory is that reduction in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) leads to the condition.