Catalepsy is a nervous disorder characterized by the sudden and momentary onset of immobility and muscle stiffness..
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People with this disorder may also become less sensitive to touch and pain during these attacks. Catalepsy causes the affected person not to respond to the voice or any other stimulus for a certain period of time. It is similar to catatonia, a neuropsychiatric syndrome that occurs in certain forms of schizophrenia and is characterized by motor abnormalities, which occur in association with alterations in consciousness, affect and thinking.
Catalepsy is a very rare disorder. Cataleptic attacks appear suddenly and can last from several minutes to several days, even weeks in extreme cases. They are often accompanied by a loss of sensation, although not always. A cataleptic patient is often unable to move or speak.
In your nervous condition, catalepsy is a symptom of a number of disorders, including Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, cocaine withdrawal, sleep apnea, depression, and emotional stress. It can also be a side effect of anti-psychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia. Catalepsy is also a possible side effect of septoplasty, a surgery performed to straighten the septum and the cartilage that separates the nostrils..
In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, a patient may experience cataleptic symptoms of extreme anxiety, presenting decreased pain, fatigue, loss of muscle control, and slowing down of bodily functions, such as breathing. The limbs can remain in any position in which they would have been placed.
The main symptoms of catalepsy include:
Catalepsy is a symptom of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Withdrawal of some medications or drugs, particularly cocaine, can also cause catalepsy. Antipsychotic medications can also cause catalepsy, as it is one of the many side effects that can affect people with schizophrenia who stop taking their medication. In rare cases, extreme emotions can cause catalepsy-like paralysis.
Treatment generally focuses on improving underlying neurological causes of the disease. Muscle relaxants can be effective for some people with catalepsy. When catalepsy is caused by drug withdrawal, people usually return to normal after several days or weeks. When catalepsy is caused by extreme emotion or trauma, it usually goes away on its own. If it persists for a long period of time, some antipsychotic medications in combination with psychotherapy can help remedy the underlying cause..
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