A 2026 systematic review argues that catatonia should be read as a limbic-cortical circuit syndrome, with motor shutdown tied to brain systems for threat, salience, motivation, and emotional regulation. Research Highlights 20 studies met criteria: the 2026 review screened 1,792 records, assessed 54 full texts, and included 20 articles: 13 observational studies and 7 case …
A 2026 hospital MRI study found that the left paracingulate sulcus was present in 31 of 109 catatonia patients (28%) vs. 171 of 323 psychiatric controls without catatonia (53%), a left-hemisphere group effect that survived adjustment for age, sex, scanner, brain volume, benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics.1 Research Highlights Left PCS signal: left paracingulate sulcus (PCS) presence …
Catatonic schizophrenia is one of 5 main subtypes of schizophrenia that is characterized by behavior at extreme opposite ends of the spectrum. At one end of the spectrum, the person may be unable to speak, move, or respond – they are stuck in a “catatonic stupor.” On the other end of the spectrum, the person …
Catatonic depression is defined as a state of stupor that results from neurogenic motor immobility and is thought to be caused by dysregulation of the neurotransmitters: GABA, glutamate and dopamine in the brain. It was first recognized in 1874 by Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum. In the current DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), “catatonia” …