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Everything You Need to Know about Catatonia

Causes of catatonia

Doctors aren’t sure what in particular makes one catatonic, although it has been traced to several other health conditions and it is most common with people who have mood disorders or psychotic disorders, like depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Most people who are catatonic also have bipolar disorder. Other medical conditions such as cerebral folate deficiency, autoimmune disorders, and rare paraneoplastic disorders (disorders related to cancerous tumors).

Some physical conditions can also lead to catatonia in people who do not have any mental illness. these include:

  • Conditions that affect your nervous system, like Parkinson’s disease
  • An infection that affects the brain known as encephalitis. If the brain is not functioning properly it increases the risk of catatonia
  • Conditions that affect one’s body chemistry, such as, diabetes, thyroid conditions, and kidney problems.

Catatonia could also happen as a side effect of some medication used to treat mental illness, although this is rare it can still be the case.  If you have any suspicion that the medication you are taken is causing catatonia, you should immediately seek medical attention. This is considered a medical emergency. For now, the only known medication that has been seen to have catatonia as a side effect is clozapine (Clozaril), and you are advised to withdraw from it.