CATALEPSY: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT - GEOGRAFÍA - 2025

The catalepsy is a disorder of the central nervous system characterized by a momentary and unintended loss of mobility, the patient adopting a rigid posture. Consciousness can be intact or altered to varying degrees.

For example, the individual may feel that he is unable to move his body or ask for help, being fully aware of what is happening around him. The word catalepsy comes from the medieval Latin catalēpsia, which in turn comes from the Greek katalepsis, which means "to squeeze" or "grasp".

During catalepsy, the body is immobile and unresponsive to stimuli, with limbs flaccid or rigid. Your breathing is so smooth that it may appear that you are not breathing, and your heart rate can be almost impossible to detect without special medical equipment.

In short, the patient has very weak vital signs, so it is easy to believe that he has died if he is not inspected by professionals. In fact, there are numerous legends that narrate that in ancient times they have come to bury living people who only suffered periods of catalepsy, thinking that they had died.

Catalepsy is very typical of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or psychosis. It is also associated with Parkinson's, epilepsy and the abuse of certain drugs that can produce it as a secondary symptom.

Regarding the prevalence of catalepsy in the population and the specific diagnostic criteria to detect it, there are currently no data. The phenomenon is mainly studied in laboratory animals, especially in rats.

Causes of catalepsy

Catalepsy has multiple causes and is associated with a wide variety of conditions. What is known is that it is produced by alterations in the body's physiological mechanisms.

Specifically, it is associated with diseases that affect the basal ganglia and the extrapyramidal pathways. Therefore, this condition can present itself as a symptom of neurological conditions such as Parkinson's and epilepsy.

It is also linked to depression and schizophrenia treated with antipsychotic medications such as haloperidol. This drug blocks dopamine receptors in the brain, which in the long term can alter motor pathways, so it is not surprising that it increases the probability of catalepsy.

Treatment with adrenergic neurotransmitter inhibitors (such as reserpine) has also been associated with catalepsy.

This is because a significant blockage of these neurotransmitters causes hypotension and an increase in acetylcholine. This substance acts on motor functions, so it can induce symptoms of catalepsy.

Drugs

Drugs can also cause this condition, mainly cocaine withdrawal in addicts and ketamine anesthesia.

In animal experiments, cocaine use has been shown to promote catalepsy, especially in high doses. According to Gutiérrez Noriega and Zapata Ortiz, it is possible that cocaine catalepsy is due to an extremely intense excitation of the nervous centers, which is even greater than motor agitation.

Dopaminergic, serotonergic and glutaminergic regulation

Protein kinase A (PKA) deficiency also appears to influence catalepsy symptoms.

Genetics

There are authors who claim that catalepsy could have a hereditary basis. Apparently, there is a genetic predisposition to catalepsy, of monogenic transmission. Specifically, it is located on a fragment of chromosome 13, which contains the gene for the serotonin receptor 5HT1A.

Emotional event

In other cases, it is said that catalepsy can occur after a very strong emotional shock, although it is not entirely clear why.

Risk factor's

Risk factors that can increase the likelihood of catalepsy are: withdrawal from psychostimulants after chronic use, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drugs, and stress (if susceptible to catalepsy).

Symptoms

Catalepsy is characterized by the following symptoms:

- Total loss of control of voluntary and involuntary movements. That is, the person is in a state of complete immobility.

- Muscle and posture stiffness.

- Some decrease in the sense of touch, with a reduction in sensitivity to pain.

- Lack of responses to stimuli.

- The limbs remain in the same position when they are moved (which is called waxy flexibility)

- Very slow breathing and pulse, almost imperceptible.

- Reduction of bodily functions.

- Paleness, so much that it can be believed that the person is dead.

Catalepsy should not be confused with…

Catalepsy must be differentiated from the terms cataplexy, catatonia, or narcolepsy.

Cataplexy or cataplexy

it is distinguished by sudden, brief episodes of loss of muscle tone that causes the person to collapse on the ground. In cataplexy, consciousness remains totally lucid. It is very typical in some forms of epilepsy and in narcolepsy.

Catatonia

It occurs when there are certain motor abnormalities along with alterations in consciousness. It is noted for an apparent lack of response to external stimuli, muscular rigidity, fixed gaze and opposition to obeying instructions. It is a symptom closely linked to schizophrenia and autism.

Narcolepsy

It is a sleep disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep attacks. It may or may not be accompanied by catalepsy.

Treatment

Catalepsy is not a disease itself, but is the consequence of other disorders. Therefore, the treatment will be directed towards the improvement of these conditions.

For example, establish treatments for Parkinson's or epilepsy, drug detoxification in the case of addiction, or if the drugs are the cause, change them for others that do not have these secondary symptoms.

Thus, if it is due to drug abuse or drug effects, it is best to interrupt the administration of these as soon as possible and the catalepsy will cease in a few days.

When it is a consequence of mental illness, it requires psychological and / or psychiatric attention as soon as possible.

If, on the contrary, the catalepsy is due to the experimentation of extreme emotions, it usually disappears on its own in a very short time.

In other cases, the preferred treatment is usually pharmacological. For some people, muscle relaxants or barbiturates are helpful. Specific noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressants also appear to be effective. In addition, chronic caffeine consumption can be a protective factor against catalepsy.

On the other hand, in prolonged periods of catalepsy it is important to take care of the patient's skin. It will be necessary to move the muscles of this to avoid circulation problems, as well as to change the position of the affected person from time to time.

As in many cases these patients are conscious, it is advisable that relatives or loved ones accompany them so that they feel more calm.

References

1. Adams, MR, Brandon, EP, Chartoff, EH, Idzerda, RL, Dorsa, DM, & McKnight, GS (1997). Loss of haloperidol induced gene expression and catalepsy in protein kinase A-deficient mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 94 (22), 12157-12161.
2. Catalepsy. (sf). Retrieved on December 14, 2016, from the University of Salamanca.
3. Catalepsy. (sf). Retrieved on December 14, 2016, from Wikipedia.
4. Catalepsy. (2015). Retrieved on December 14, 2016, from Good Therapy.
5. Cepeda, JL Catalepsia: Concept and Physiology. Final Degree Project at the University of Navarra.
6. Grosu, C., & Popescu, CD (2015). Catalepsy: then and now. Bulletin of Integrative Psychiatry, 21 (1), 35-42.
7. Gutiérrez-Noriega, C., & Zapata Ortiz, V. (1945). Experimental catalepsy produced by Cocaine. Peruvian Journal of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, 4 (4), 268-283.
8. Kondaurova, EM, Bazovkina, DV, & Kulikov, AV (2016). Studies of Catalepsy and Other Forms of Behavior Using Recombinant Mouse Strains. Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology, 46 (9), 992-996.
9. Catalelpsy and Narcolepsy. (November 22, 2013). Obtained from Doctor Cisneros.