Catalepsy – What is it, Symptoms and Treatments!
Catalepsy – What it is, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition that few know. In addition, Catalepsy is a disorder that prevents the patient from moving, although the senses and vital functions continue to function (only slightly decelerated).
Catalepsy is a transient condition, but sometimes lasting (very rare), in which the patient suffers a general paralysis of all his muscles, being unable to move or even speak, although he remains conscious and with his senses active and the functioning vital functions (albeit somewhat decelerated).
What afflicts people the most is the fact that they perceive everything that is happening around them and are unable to outline any reaction. Normally, the muscles of the cataleptic person become rigid and if someone takes him into a certain posture (raising his arm, for example) he remains that way, unable to move (waxy flexibility).
Over the years, especially in the past centuries, there have been many cases of people who were considered dead and who would later wake up, some even during their wake (not to mention the number of people who will have been buried alive ).
Causes of Catalepsy: Some of the causes of Catalepsy are unknown, but Catalepsy has been associated with several genetic factors, or certain malformations in some region of the brain.
Catalepsy can also arise as a result of some other diseases of the nervous system, such as:
- Epilepsy ;
- Schizophrenia ;
- Mental weakness;
- neurileptic malignant syndrome;
- depression ;
- Hysteria;
- Parkinson’s Disease ;
- Head trauma;
- Severe emotional trauma, etc.
This problem can also arise as a side effect of the use of certain medications that are used in the treatment of Schizophrenia .
Symptoms of Catalepsy: Catalepsy can be characterized by rigidity of the body and/or limbs. The limbs stay in the same position when moved (also known as waxy flexibility), there is a lack of physical response, loss of muscle control, and a severe slowing down of bodily functions (such as breathing).
In the past, Catalepsy was sometimes misdiagnosed as death and resulted in people actually being buried alive.
Most Common Symptoms:
- Stiffness and general paralysis of all the muscles of the body;
- Dramatically reduced vital signs.
Diagnosis of Catalepsy: A long time ago, Catalepsy was not understood as a disease and there was no diagnosis. So many cataleptic people were buried alive because they were believed to be really dead. Obviously when these people woke up from the illness they faced the despair of being locked inside coffins.
Many of these people ended up suffocating in their own graves, others still had the strength to struggle and get the attention of others.
Of course, these situations only reinforced the legend of the undead and ghosts. The populations that watched these situations in disbelief even came to think that the cataleptics were vampires. The cataleptic state has been associated with hypnosis and alien abduction.
Catalepsy Treatments: The treatment of Catalepsy consists of the use of benzodiazepine drugs that help to prevent cataleptic crises. These medicines help to relax the muscles and prevent total immobility. However, these medications can cause decreased concentration, drowsiness and even dizziness.
in other more severe cases, when this disease does not correspond to the use of benzodiazepines, the use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be effective. In any case, it is very important that anyone suffering from Catalepsy is accompanied by a neurologist.