My Silence Says It All: A Case Report and Literature Review of Catatonia in First Episode Psychosis

Abstract

Background: Catatonia is a severe psychomotor syndrome associated with various psychiatric disorders and medical conditions. While it is associated with multiple conditions, it is studied most in psychiatric patients. In Schizophrenia, for eg, rates have been found in the range of 1% to 50%. It can present as a symptom cluster of psychomotor and behavioral symptoms such as automatism, negativism, mutism, waxy flexibility, echolalia amongst others. Motor symptoms including catatonia can be seen in psychosis, but little literature exists specifically on first episode psychosis (FEP) presenting with the specific motor cluster of catatonia.