How is catatonic schizophrenia diagnosed?

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Doctors must use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to diagnose catatonic schizophrenia. The manual notes that people with catatonic schizophrenia will have the following symptoms:
- They will be unresponsive, not moving or speaking, and they will stay positioned in one way for a great deal of time.
- They will repeat what others say and do, and they will move strangely or have strange posture.
- They will be exhibit manic or hyperactive movement or behavior that does not serve a particular goal.
Catatonic schizophrenia is among quite a few disorders that have these symptoms. For this reason, doctors do physical and mental examinations before making a diagnosis.
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Doctors must use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to diagnose catatonic schizophrenia. The manual notes that people with catatonic schizophrenia will have the following symptoms: They will be unresponsive, not moving or... More
Dr. Mark Morocco answered:
The process of diagnosing catatonic schizophrenia is similar to diagnosing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The doctor conducts a physical exam and does a blood test and possibly other medical tests as well. The doctor will ask about recent thoughts and behaviors. Since people with catatonic schizophrenia may not respond to questioning, the doctor may want to ask friends or family members about recent behaviors.

In order to be diagnosed with catatonic schizophrenia, the doctor must notice some of the following symptoms:
- The person does not move.
- The person does not speak.
- The person moves excessively, without rationale.
- The person makes strange motions or speaks in odd ways.
According to the Mayo Clinic, catatonic schizophrenia can sometimes mimic other disorders, including mania, seizure disorder, and autism. The doctor must test the person extensively to rule these conditions out before giving a diagnosis of catatonic schizophrenia.

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More Related Answers from Dr. Mark Morocco
The process of diagnosing catatonic schizophrenia is similar to diagnosing schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. The doctor conducts a physical exam and does a blood test and possibly other medical tests as well. The doctor will ask... More