catatonic
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Relating to or suffering from catatonia: Describes a state of severe mental disturbance characterized by either muscular rigidity and lack of response, or by extreme limpness and passivity.
- Resembling or suggestive of catatonia: Used more informally to describe a state of being dazed, unresponsive, or immobile, often due to shock, surprise, or extreme emotion.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The patient was found in a catatonic state, staring blankly at the wall for hours.
- After hearing the shocking news, she sat catatonic, unable to speak or move.
- The medication can sometimes induce a catatonic stupor as a side effect.
Advanced Usage
"catatonic depression": A severe form of depression where the individual may become mute and immobile.
- His condition worsened into a catatonic depression, requiring intensive hospital care.
"catatonic schizophrenia": A subtype of schizophrenia marked by periods of catatonic behavior.
- The classic symptoms of catatonic schizophrenia include waxy flexibility and posturing.
Variants and Related Words
Catatonia (n): The medical condition itself, characterized by motor disturbances and behavioral symptoms.
- The diagnosis was catatonia, a syndrome often associated with severe mental illness.
Catatonically (adv): In a catatonic manner.
- He stared catatonically out the window, oblivious to his surroundings.
Synonyms
- Stuporous: In a state of near-unconsciousness or insensibility.
- Comatose: In a state of deep unconsciousness; often used figuratively for extreme lethargy.
- Unresponsive: Not reacting or responding to stimuli.
Related Phrases
- To go catatonic: An informal phrase meaning to become dazed and unresponsive, often from shock.
- When he saw the accident, he just went catatonic for a moment.
Related Idioms
- Like a catatonic: Used informally to describe someone who is extremely still and unresponsive.
- After the marathon, he lay on the couch like a catatonic.
Adjective
- characterized by catatonia especially either rigidity or extreme laxness of limbs