catatonia

cat·a·to·ni·a  (kt-tn-)

n.

An abnormal condition variously characterized by stupor, stereotypy, mania, and either rigidity or extreme flexibility of the limbs. It is most often associated with schizophrenia.

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[New Latin, from German Katatonie, from Greek katatonos, stretching tight, from katateinein, to stretch tight : kata-, intensive pref.; see cata- + teinein, to stretch; see ten- in Indo-European roots.]

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cata·tonic (-tnk) adj. & n.

cata·toni·cal·ly adv.

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catatonia

Noun

a form of schizophrenia in which the sufferer experiences stupor, with outbreaks of excitement [Greek kata- down + tonos tension]

catatonic adj

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catatonia

one of various forms of schizophrenia characterized by stupor, sometimes alternating with excited behavior and mechanical, repetitive behavior, accompanied by muscular rigidity. — catatonic, n., adj.

See also: Insanity

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	catatonia - extreme tonus; muscular rigidity; a common symptom in catatonic schizophrenia catatonic schizophrenia, catatonic type schizophrenia, catatonia - a form of schizophrenia characterized by a tendency to remain in a fixed stuporous state for long periods; the catatonia may give way to short periods of extreme excitement tonicity, tonus, tone - the elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli; "the doctor tested my tonicity"
	2.	catatonia - a form of schizophrenia characterized by a tendency to remain in a fixed stuporous state for long periods; the catatonia may give way to short periods of extreme excitement catatonic schizophrenia, catatonic type schizophrenia dementia praecox, schizophrenia, schizophrenic disorder, schizophrenic psychosis - any of several psychotic disorders characterized by distortions of reality and disturbances of thought and language and withdrawal from social contact catatonia - extreme tonus; muscular rigidity; a common symptom in catatonic schizophrenia