Catatonia

People with catatonia suffer from rigid stupors and/or lashing about excitedly. When the DSM-III (APA, 1987) was published, catatonia was included only as a subtype of schizophrenia. However, clinicians noticed that catatonic symptoms appeared in people who were not schizophrenic. When the DSM-IV (APA, 1994) was published, allowance was made for catatonia to be diagnosed as a result of a mood disorder or medical condition. Despite these changes, the precedent of diagnosing schizophrenia whenever catatonic symptoms are exhibited remains prevalent. Some speculate that mental health professionals are unaware that catatonia can exist apart from schizophrenia, and such ignorance may lead to inappropriate treatment. Catatonia has additionally been observed in people who do not meet criteria for schizophrenia, a mood disorder, or a general medical condition, suggesting that catatonia is a unique syndrome. Despite this evidence, catatonia was not recognized as a syndrome in the DSM-IV. Taylor & Fink (2003) argue for the inclusion of catatonia as a distinct and separate syndrome. This study attempted to assess the beliefs of mental health professionals on the issue.