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Schizophrenia is, without a doubt, one of the most well-known mental disorders among the population. This happens, among other reasons, because its symptoms (such as hallucinations) can be very striking for the rest of the population. However, it is a complex disorder that includes other less striking symptoms, such as emotional flattening.
Despite being a well-defined disorder, different cases of schizophrenia may present particularities that establish differences between them. For this reason, diagnostic classifications allow diagnoses to be made with specifiers. One of these specifiers in the case of schizophrenia is catatonia. Continue reading this Psychology-Online article in which we focus on Catatonic schizophrenia: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment.
What is catatonic schizophrenia
It is a mental disorder included in the main diagnostic classifications DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association) and ICD-11 (World Health Organization). As we have indicated, the diagnosis may be accompanied by specifications made by the professional, such as catatonia.
The , according to the psychology dictionary of the American Psychiatric Association, constitutes a state of muscle rigidity or an alteration of motor behavior that entails a series of associated symptoms, set out in the following section of this article.
Therefore, Catatonic schizophrenia occurs when the patient meets the criteria to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and also shows catatonic symptoms. compatible to perform the specification of catatonic schizophrenia.
We must also keep in mind that catatonia is not an exclusive state that appears in schizophrenia, and that catatonic states can also appear in other diagnostic conditions such as and/or in .
Symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, as we have already indicated, is a complex disorder in which a very varied symptomatology can appear. To organize this symptomatology, a classification has been proposed that includes:
- Positive symptoms like the and/or the .
- Negative symptoms which include those phenomena that seem to be “diminished” such as the or the .
- Disorganized symptomswhich include, for example, disorganized behavior and/or inappropriate affect.
In addition to the typical symptoms of schizophrenia, the catatonia specifier requires the presence of a series of symptoms for its diagnosis. Following the DSM-5 classification, at least three or more of the following symptoms must be present:
- Stupor: absence of psychomotor activity.
- Catalepsy: passive induction of a posture held against gravity.
- Waxy flexibility: mild and constant resistance to postural change.
- Mutism: absent or scarce verbal response.
- Negativism: opposition or lack of response to instructions or external stimuli.
- Adoption of a posture: spontaneous and active maintenance of a posture against gravity.
- Mannerism: strange, circumstantial caricature of normal actions.
- Stereotypy: repetitive, abnormally frequent movements, not directed towards a goal.
- Agitationnot influenced by external stimuli.
- Silly faces.
- : imitation of another person’s speech.
- : imitation of another person’s movements.
Causes of catatonic schizophrenia
Given the phenomenological diversity of schizophrenia, when explaining the origin of the disorder we must consider numerous variables and causes that account for the appearance of all its symptoms. Since the biological theories Different explanations have been postulated:
- Those that focus on genetic aspects: In them, the heritability of the disorder as such is not postulated, but rather the predisposition to develop it.
- Those who study biochemical alterations: on the alteration in the functioning of neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, catecholamines, etc.
- Other hypotheses such as endocrine, immunological and/or neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and related to neurodevelopment.
Within the world of psychology, different orientations have tried to explain the origin of schizophrenia, such as psychodynamic, humanistic or cognitive-behavioral.
However, as we indicated previously, we cannot reduce the explanation of such a complex disorder to a single cause. For this reason, integrative models have been proposed that collect data from the different etiological proposals.
Among these integrative models we highlight the vulnerability-stress model in which various factors interact. This model indicates that, in the face of stressful situations and under certain situations, a vulnerable person can develop a schizophrenic episode.
It is important, finally, to point out that both the appearance of schizophrenia and catatonia (in the same way as many other diagnostic conditions of the classifications) can be due to the effects of some substance or medication, this being the direct cause of its appearance. Diagnostic classifications also offer specific diagnoses for these cases.
Treatment of catatonic schizophrenia.
In the same way that causal explanations must cover all the symptomatology, treatment must also cover all the altered areas of catatonic schizophrenia. In this sense, following the classification between positive and negative symptoms and taking as reference the chapter by Godoy, JF, Godoy-Izquierdo, D. and Vázquez, ML (2014):
- He Pharmacotherapy will be the best choice to treat positive symptoms (such as hallucinations and delusions) and will be complemented by psychological and psychosocial therapy. This type of treatment is also indicated for catatonia in particular.
- As for negative symptoms, above all basic functions, especially cognitive functions, will be treated and rehabilitated.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- Godoy, JF, Godoy-Izquierdo, D. and Vázquez, ML (2014) Spectrum of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. En Caballo, VE, Salazar, IC and Carrobles, JA (2014) Manual of Psychopathology and Psychological Disorders. Madrid. Pyramid.
Bibliography
- American Psychiatric Association (2014). DSM-5. Reference guide to the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5-Breviary. Madrid: Panamericana Medical Editorial.
- World Health Organization (WHO) (2018) International Classification of Diseases, 11th revision. Recovered from https://icd.who.int/es