Synonyms: waxy flexibility, flexibilitas cerea
Catatonia is a psychomotor syndrome reported to occur in over 10% of patients with acute psychiatric illness. Two sub-types of catatonia have been identified: retarded catatonia and excited catatonia. Retarded catatonia is characterised by immobility, mutism, staring and rigidity. Excited catatonia is less common, patients develop prolonged periods of psychomotor agitation. It is a presentation of a number of different conditions rather than a disease itself. It may be an episodic condition with periods of remission, and triggered by medication or other changes in circumstances.2
This is a companion discussion topic for the original article at https://patient.info/doctor/mental-health/catatonia-and-catalepsy