catatonic schizophrenia

schizophrenia /schizo·phre·nia/ (skit″so-fren´e-ah) (-fre´ne-ah) a mental disorder or group of disorders characterized by disturbances in the form and content of thought (e.g., delusions, hallucinations), in mood (e.g., inappropriate affect), in sense of self and relationship to the external world (e.g., loss of ego boundaries, withdrawal), and in behavior (e.g., bizarre or apparently purposeless behavior); it must cause marked decrease in functioning and be present for at least six months.schizophren´ic

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catatonic schizophrenia  a form characterized by psychomotor disturbance, which may be manifested by a marked decrease in reactivity to the environment and in spontaneous activity, by excited, uncontrollable, and apparently purposeless motor activity, by resistance to instructions or attempts to be moved, or by maintenance of a rigid posture or of fixed bizarre postures.

childhood schizophrenia  former name for schizophrenia-like symptoms with onset before puberty, marked by autistic, withdrawn behavior, failure to develop an identity separate from the mother's, and gross developmental immaturity, now classified as pervasive developmental disorders.

disorganized schizophrenia , hebephrenic schizophrenia a form marked by disorganized and incoherent thought and speech, shallow, inappropriate, and silly affect, and regressive behavior without systematized delusions.

paranoid schizophrenia  a form characterized by delusions, often with auditory hallucinations, with relative preservation of affect and cognitive functioning.

residual schizophrenia  a condition manifested by individuals with symptoms of schizophrenia who, after a psychotic schizophrenic episode, are no longer psychotic.

undifferentiated schizophrenia  a type characterized by the presence of prominent psychotic symptoms but not classifiable as catatonic, disorganized, or paranoid.

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catatonic schizophrenia

n.

A type of schizophrenia characterized by marked disturbances in activity resulting in either generalized inhibition or excessive activity.

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catatonic schizophrenia

Etymology: Gk, kata + tonos + schizein, to split, phren, mind

a form of schizophrenia characterized by alternating periods of extreme withdrawal and extreme excitement. During the withdrawal stage, stupor, waxy flexibility, muscular rigidity, mutism, blocking, negativism, and catalepsy (cerea flexibilitas) may be seen. During the period of excitement, purposeless and impulsive activity may range from mild agitation to violence. See also catatonia.