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Catatonic: meaning, definitions and examples

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catatonic

 

[ ˌkætəˈtɒnɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

medical condition

Catatonic refers to a state characterized by an extreme lack of movement, responsiveness, or communication. It is often seen in certain psychiatric disorders, particularly catatonia, where the individual may remain immobile for extended periods or exhibit unusual postures. This condition can occur alongside other symptoms, such as echolalia or echopraxia, where a person mimics another's speech or movements. The diagnosis and treatment of catatonia often require careful evaluation, as it can be associated with various underlying medical or psychiatric conditions.

Synonyms

immobile, motionless, unresponsive.

Examples of usage

  • The patient remained catatonic for hours.
  • Her catatonic state worried the medical staff.
  • Catatonic schizophrenia is a complex diagnosis.
  • He exhibited catatonic behavior during the episode.

Translations

Translations of the word "catatonic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 catatónico

🇮🇳 कैटेटोनिक

🇩🇪 katatonisch

🇮🇩 katatonik

🇺🇦 кататонічний

🇵🇱 katatoniczny

🇯🇵 緊張病の

🇫🇷 catatonique

🇪🇸 catatónico

🇹🇷 katatonik

🇰🇷 긴장증의

🇸🇦 كاتاتوني

🇨🇿 katatonní

🇸🇰 katatónny

🇨🇳 紧张症的

🇸🇮 katatoničen

🇮🇸 katatónískur

🇰🇿 кататоник

🇬🇪 კატატონიური

🇦🇿 katatonik

🇲🇽 catatónico

Etymology

The term 'catatonic' is derived from the Greek word 'katatonia,' where 'kata-' means 'down' and 'tonos' means 'tension.' The term first came into prominence in the early 20th century, particularly through the work of German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, who described catatonia as a specific type of schizophrenia characterized by motor dysfunctions. It was later expanded upon by other psychiatric theorists, notably Karl Kahlbaum, who initially coined the term in his work detailing the disorder in 1874. Over the years, catatonia has been recognized not only in the realm of schizophrenia but also in mood disorders and various neurological conditions, leading to a broader understanding of its implications and the biological mechanisms behind it.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,401 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.