Identify the type of catatonia where patients assume awkward bizarre positions for long periods of time :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Catatonic Posturing
People with schizophrenia show psychomotor symptoms: they move less spontaneously or make odd grimaces and gestures. These symptoms may take extreme forms known as catatonia.
Option (1) Catatonic Stupor — Incorrect. People in a catatonic stupor remain motionless and silent for long stretches of time. They do not move, but they do not take bizarre positions.
Option (2) Catatonic Rigidity — Incorrect. Catatonic rigidity means maintaining a rigid, upright posture for hours. The posture is stiff and upright, not awkward and bizarre.
Option (3) Catatonic Posturing — Correct. Catatonic posturing is assuming awkward, bizarre positions for long periods of time.
Option (4) Catatonic Position — Incorrect. ‘Position’ is not a form of catatonia; the word only echoes ‘positions’ in the question. The three forms of catatonia are stupor, rigidity and posturing, and holding odd positions for a long time is called posturing.
NCERT (2025-26): “Symptoms of Schizophrenia … People with schizophrenia also show psychomotor symptoms. They move less spontaneously or make odd grimaces and gestures. These symptoms may take extreme forms known as catatonia. People in a catatonic stupor remain motionless and silent for long stretches of time. Some show catatonic rigidity, i.e. maintaining a rigid, upright posture for hours. Others exhibit catatonic posturing, i.e. assuming awkward, bizarre positions for long periods of time.…” |