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What Is Catatonic Depression?

Catatonic depression is a uncommon form of major depression. A person with catatonic depression displays disturbances in muscle activity and/or tone. Here's some more information about this debilitating and dangerous condition.

  1. Identification

    • The symptoms of catatonic depression include being motionless for a long period of time (catatonic stupor) and moving around peculiarly and violently (catatonic excitement). A person with catatonic depression may choose not speak or imitate another person's word or actions.

    Effects

    • A person with catatonic stupor may experience psychological pain even from the simplest physical movement, and might not be able to perform the simplest chore.
      On the other hand, a person with catatonic excitement can cause damage to himself and therefore must be closely monitored.
      The symptoms of catatonic depression will gradually disappear as the sufferer gets out of the depression episode.

    Types

    • Catatonic depression is often associated with bipolar I disorder. Bipolar I disorder refers to a mood disorder that involves alternating periods of mania and depression. Catatonic stupor is more likely to occur during the more severe depression phases; catatonic excitement is most likely to occur during the manic phases.

    Size

    • Five to 10 percent of patients with mental disorders experience some forms of catatonic symptoms. About half of these patients are associated with depression. Advanced age is a major risk factor for catatonic depression.

    Expert Insight

    • Electroconvulsive therapy has been shown to improve symptoms of catatonic depression. Other treatments of catatonic depression include benzodiazepine and antimelancholic medications.
      Patients with catatonic depression are at high risk for committing suicide. In general, the lifetime suicide risks patients suffering from major depression is 3 to 4 percent. Men are five times more likely to commit suicide than women. Depression also increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Research showed that the mortality rate of people diagnosed with depression is 50 to 80 percent higher than that of people of the same age who are not depressed.

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