How Do You Spell CATATONY?

Pronunciation: [kˈatɐtənɪ] (IPA)

The word "catatony" refers to a severe psychiatric condition that causes a person to be unresponsive and immobile. It is spelled with six letters, "c-a-t-a-t-o-n-y". The IPA phonetic transcription for "catatony" is /kəˈtætəni/. The first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound "ə" followed by a "t" sound. The second and third syllables have a short "a" sound "æ" before the "t" and "n" sounds respectively. The last syllable has a long "i" sound "i:" and an unstressed syllable pronounced with a schwa sound "ə".

CATATONY Meaning and Definition

1. Catatony is a psychiatric condition characterized by marked disturbances in motor behavior that often manifest as a state of extreme immobility or excessive and purposeless motor activity. It is typically associated with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia or mood disorders, but can also be observed in various neurological conditions.

   The catatonic state is defined by a significant reduction in responsiveness to external stimuli, resulting in a lack of movement and apparent disconnection from the surrounding environment. In some cases, individuals with catatonia may exhibit stupor, remaining motionless for extended periods, unaware of their surroundings. Conversely, others may display purposeless and repetitive movements, such as pacing or rocking. These extreme and abnormal motor behaviors are not driven by conscious intent or external factors, but rather seem to stem from inherent disturbances in the brain's motor control regions.

   Catatony can be accompanied by a variety of other symptoms, including mutism (inability to speak), negativism (opposition to instructions or attempts to be moved), posturing (adopting unusual or rigid body positions), or echolalia (repeating words or phrases). The condition can greatly impair a person's ability to function independently and may cause significant distress to both the individuals experiencing it and their caregivers.

   Catatony is typically treated with a combination of medications, such as benzodiazepines or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Prompt recognition and intervention are crucial to alleviate symptoms and prevent potential complications, such as dehydration, malnutrition, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) resulting from prolonged immobility.

2. Catatonia.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CATATONY

• catatonia
• xatatony
• vatatony
• fatatony
• datatony
• cztatony
• cstatony
• cwtatony
• cqtatony
• caratony
• cafatony
• cagatony
• cayatony
• ca6atony
• ca5atony
• catztony
• catstony
• catwtony
• catqtony
• catarony

Etymology of CATATONY

The word catatony originates from the field of psychiatry and is derived from the Greek words kata (meaning down or against) and tonos (meaning tension). The term was first coined by the German psychiatrist Carl Friedrich Otto Westphal in the 19th century to describe a symptom of certain mental illnesses that involve motor abnormalities and disturbances in behavior. These conditions often manifest as a state of immobility or extreme rigidity, hence the name catatony.