Definition of Catatonic: Catatonic refers to a state of stupor or unresponsiveness in a person who is otherwise awake. It’s a term often used in psychiatry to describe a syndrome that can be a part of several mental illnesses, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions. Catatonic states can include symptoms such as immobility or rigidity, mutism, extreme negativism, posturing, and echolalia (mindless repetition of words spoken by others).
Etymology and Origin: The term ‘catatonic’ comes from ‘catatonia’, which was coined in the late 19th century by the German psychiatrist Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum. It is derived from the Greek words ‘kata-‘, meaning ‘down’, and ‘tonos‘, meaning ‘tension’ or ‘tone’. This term was initially used to describe a type of schizophrenia characterized by marked psychomotor disturbances.
