Catatonia
Marked changes in movement, speech or responsiveness need medical attention. Find care first, then learn why catatonia requires professional assessment of both physical and mental health.
Catatonia is a syndrome with different possible causes.
Catatonia can involve major changes in movement, speech and behaviour. A person may become very still or unusually agitated. It can occur with physical and mental health conditions.
It requires medical assessment, including possible underlying causes and physical complications. It is not simply another name for schizophrenia.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
Medical assessment and care belong together.
- Medical assessment
Investigate possible causes
- Physical needs
Assess complications and hydration
- Treatment
Specialist decisions and monitoring
- Communication
Respectful explanations and support
Changes a professional needs to assess.
These examples explain the topic, not a checklist to diagnose catatonia. Do not try to provoke or demonstrate signs.
Movement
A marked reduction or unusual increase in movement.
Speech & response
Much less speech or difficulty responding.
Positions & repetition
Unusual fixed positions or repeated movements.
Physical needs
Withdrawal affecting eating, drinking or everyday care.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
Physical health belongs at the centre of assessment.
Clinicians assess behaviour, examine physical health and investigate relevant medical, neurological and psychiatric explanations. They also check complications such as dehydration and the effects of immobility.
A supporter may help explain recent changes. Speak respectfully to the person: difficulty responding does not necessarily mean they cannot understand. There is no catatonia self-test here.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
- 1The current change
Movement, speech or response changes you have noticed.
- 2Recent context
Relevant illness or medicines, if known; do not delay care to gather records.
- 3Communication
How the team can communicate respectfully and involve appropriate support.
A marked change in movement or responsiveness needs medical attention.
Catatonia can occur with several psychiatric and physical conditions. Assessment must consider medical and neurological causes as well as mental health context.
Do not try movement tests, a home examination or a symptom count to decide whether help is needed. Problems with responsiveness, eating or drinking can create urgent physical needs.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
Prompt specialist care addresses the syndrome and its cause.
Explore the options and ask what fits your circumstances and needs.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
Share changes and needs with the medical team.
Explain what is different from the person’s usual movement, speech and daily functioning, and when it changed. Tell staff about medicines and other known health concerns.
Speak respectfully and assume the person may understand even if they cannot respond. Ask clinicians how to communicate and support them while physical care and specialist treatment are arranged.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
You deserve to understand your care.
Difficulty responding should not be assumed to be a deliberate choice.
What an assessment can involve
Find support. Prepare your next step.
Find care or prepare a conversation. You can ask for help before you have a diagnosis.
Use the free guides to learn what to expect or find someone to talk to. If you need urgent help, go straight to the country-labeled support contacts.
Find urgent supportPrepare for a conversation
A few prompts to help you explain what you have noticed and what you would like help with.
- A simple notes builder
- Copy your notes to keep
- No account needed
You decide how much to write and share.
Find your wordsFind your next kind of support
Explore where to begin with everyday support, professional help or an urgent conversation.
- Ways to ask for help
- Country-specific crisis contacts
- Support at your own pace
If you need urgent help, go straight to support.
Find supportYour first sentence does not need to be perfect.
Contact urgent medical care for suspected catatonia; use your local emergency service for unresponsiveness or immediate danger. Share what has changed and when, if you can, without delaying contact to collect a detailed history.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
“There has been a marked change in movement, speech or responsiveness. We need urgent medical help to assess what is happening.”Make it sound like you
Your questions, with room for nuance.
You can read just the answer you need.
Does being unable to respond mean someone cannot understand?
Not necessarily. Communicate respectfully and ask the medical team for guidance; inability to respond should not be taken as proof of lack of awareness or consent.
Based on Royal College of Psychiatrists · British Association for Psychopharmacology
Where this information comes from.
Use this hub to learn and prepare questions. It does not diagnose you or recommend a personal treatment plan. By Selfmora editorial; sources checked . Updated .
Additional explanations and examples: sources consulted . Examples illustrate ideas; they do not assess your personal health. Your questions
- Catatonia: information for patients and carers
- Evidence-based consensus guidelines for catatonia (2023)